''Manilkara zapota'', commonly known as sapodilla (),
sapote, naseberry, nispero or chicle,
is a long-lived,
evergreen
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, whic ...
tree native to southern Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. An example natural occurrence is in coastal
Yucatán
Yucatán (, also , , ; yua, Yúukatan ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Yucatán,; yua, link=no, Xóot' Noj Lu'umil Yúukatan. is one of the 31 states which comprise the federal entities of Mexico. It comprises 106 separate mun ...
in the
Petenes mangroves ecoregion, where it is a subdominant plant species. It was introduced to the Philippines during Spanish colonization. It is grown in large quantities in Mexico and in tropical Asia including India, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh.
The
specific epithet ''zapota'' is from the Spanish , which ultimately derives from the
Nahuatl word
''tzapotl''.
Description
left, Sapodilla tree
Sapodilla can grow to more than tall with a trunk diameter of up to . The average height of cultivated specimens, however, is usually between with a trunk diameter not exceeding . It is wind-resistant and the bark is rich in a white, gummy
latex
Latex is an emulsion (stable dispersion) of polymer microparticles in water. Latexes are found in nature, but synthetic latexes are common as well.
In nature, latex is found as a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants (angiosperms ...
called
chicle. The ornamental leaves are medium green and glossy. They are alternate, elliptic to ovate, long, with an entire margin. The white flowers are inconspicuous and bell-like, with a six-lobed corolla. An unripe fruit has a firm outer skin and when picked, releases white chicle from its stem. A fully ripened fruit has saggy skin and does not release chicle when picked.
The fruit is a large berry, in diameter.
Inside, its flesh ranges from a pale yellow to an earthy brown color with a grainy texture akin to that of a well-ripened pear. Each fruit contains one to six seeds.
The seeds are hard, glossy, and black, resembling beans, with a hook at one end that can catch in the throat if swallowed.
The fruit has an exceptionally sweet, malty flavor. The unripe fruit is hard to the touch and contains high amounts of
saponin, which has
astringent
An astringent (sometimes called adstringent) is a chemical that shrinks or constricts body tissues. The word derives from the Latin ''adstringere'', which means "to bind fast". Calamine lotion, witch hazel, and yerba mansa, a Californian pla ...
properties similar to
tannin
Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.
The term ''tannin'' (from Anglo-Norman ''tanner'' ...
, drying out the mouth.
The trees can survive only in warm, typically tropical environments, dying easily if the temperature drops below freezing. From germination, the sapodilla tree will usually take anywhere from five to eight years to bear fruit. The sapodilla trees yield fruit twice a year, though flowering may continue year round.
Other names
Sapodilla fruits being sold on a street in , India">Guntur, India
Other common names in English for ''Manilkara zapota'' include bully tree, sawo, marmalade palm and chiku.
Biological studies
Compounds extracted from the leaves showed
anti-diabetic,
antioxidant and
hypocholesterolemic (
cholesterol
Cholesterol is any of a class of certain organic molecules called lipids. It is a sterol (or modified steroid), a type of lipid. Cholesterol is biosynthesized by all animal cells and is an essential structural component of animal cell mem ...
-lowering) effects in rats.
Acetone extracts of the seeds exhibited ''
in vitro
''In vitro'' (meaning in glass, or ''in the glass'') studies are performed with microorganisms, cells, or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called " test-tube experiments", these studies in biology ...
'' antibacterial effects against strains of ''
Pseudomonas oleovorans
''Pseudomonas oleovorans'' is a Gram-negative, methylotrophic bacterium that is a source of rubredoxin (part of the hydroxylation-epoxidation system). It was first isolated in water-oil emulsions used as lubricants and cooling agents for cuttin ...
'' and ''
Vibrio cholerae
''Vibrio cholerae'' is a species of Gram-negative, facultative anaerobe and comma-shaped bacteria. The bacteria naturally live in brackish or saltwater where they attach themselves easily to the chitin-containing shells of crabs, shrimps, and oth ...
''.
File:Manilkara-zapota-yucatan.jpg
File:Chikoo seeds.jpg
File:Manilkara zapota.jpg
File:Manilkara zapota - Nispero fruit and leaves 01.jpg
File:Manilkara zapota - Nispero fruit and leaves 04.jpg
File:Chikoo.JPG
Synonyms
Synonyms of this species include:
Uses
The fruit is edible and a favorite in the tropical Americas.
Chicle from the bark is used to make chewing gum.
See also
*
Sapote
Sapote (from Nahuatl ''tzapotl'') is a term for a soft, edible fruit. The word is incorporated into the common names of several unrelated fruit-bearing plants native to southern Mexico, Central America and northern parts of South America. It is al ...
References
External links
CRFG Publications: Sapodilla
{{Taxonbar, from=Q14959
zapota
Flora of Mexico
Flora of Belize
Flora of Guatemala
Crops originating from indigenous Americans
Tropical fruit
Saponaceous plants
Plants described in 1753
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus