EFFECT OF “JACKFRUIT” THE GIFT OF NATURE ON HUMAN HEALTH: A REVIEW

Plant based diets are a vital way for people to improve their health and reduce the risk of chronic illness. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a tropical climacteric fruit, belonging to Moraceae family, is native to Western Ghats of India and common in Asia, Africa, and some regions in South America. ‘The poor man’s fruit’ has been mentioned as ‘Panasa’ in ayurvedic texts such as the Charaka Samhita, Susruta Samhita. It is the largest edible fruit in the world. Jackfruit is rich in nutrients including carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. The jackfruit’s seed to rind has the health benefits. It is effective in constipation, osteoporosis, anemia etc.

The unripen fleshy parts are used to make different recipes. The flesh in fully ripen stage can be eaten directly as fruit, also can make different food products such as Jam, Ice cream, Jellies etc.

The parts of jackfruit tree including fruits, leaves, bark have been used as medicines due to its anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and hypoglycemic effects. The aim of this review is to establish the health benefit of jackfruit on human health.