"Singapore Cherry Tree", Small Fruits but Rich Benefits

Singapore cherry tree is one of the plants that we can easily find on the roadside. This tree includes wild plants that grow with a height of 3 to 6 meters, even reaching 12 meters. This plant can grows in various countries such as Indonesia, India, Mexico, Costa Rica, England, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and others. Singapore cherry fruit that has the Latin name Muntingia Calabura L. including Elaecarpaceae family of plants is a type of small-sized fruit, sweet, has a green color when young and bright red when ripe.

Most of us would have felt no stranger to the Singapore cherry tree, or some call Keres, cherry, beleci, and cherry Java. Indeed, every region in Indonesia has a different name for this one plant. Cherry trees are found growing wild and into a shelter or children's playground. The tree grows rapidly. Cherry fruit is small, round, ripe red color when ripe and very sweet taste.

Often the parents forbid their children to eat fruit cherry and buy fruits that are considered more suitable for consumption. This plant not only serves as a shade plant when the weather is hot or Just a playground for children, but also beneficial to health.

This tiny fruit turned out to contain several important compounds for nutritional health. Based on the survey results revealed that the nutritional content of cherry fruit is not less than any other fruit. Judging content of vitamin C, Singapore cherry fruit is not inferior to other fruits, such as grapes, mango or tomato. Vitamin C in every 100 grams of wine was 10.8 mg, in a mango fruit with an average of 60 mg, and the small size of the tomato fruit as much as 23 mg, whereas in every 100 grams of cherry as much as 80.5 mg. Singapore cherry fruit we can get it for free because there is no supermarket or market traders selling fruit cherry. Singapore cherry fruit also fruit throughout the year. Meanwhile, to get the grapes, mangoes and tomatoes, we have to pay and wait for the season to come. Calcium content of Singapore cherry fruit are 124.6 milligrams, far more than mangoes are only 15 milligrams. This is evidenced by a study written by Julia F Morton in her book entitled "Fruits of Warm Climates" in 1987. According to her, there are at least 12 types of compounds in Singapore cherry fruits. Every 100 grams of Singapore cherry fruit contains:

  • Water as much as 77.8 grams
  • Fat as much as 1.56 grams
  • Protein much as 0.324 grams
  • Calcium as much as 124.6 milligrams
  • Fiber 4.6 grams
  • Iron are 1.18 milligrams
  • Phosphorus as much as 84 milligrams
  • Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) are 0.065 milligrams
  • Vitamin C (antioxidant or Ascorbic Acid) as much as 80.5 milligrams
  • Carotene as much as 0,019 milligrams
  • Niacin as much as 0.554 milligrams
  • Riboflavin as much as 0,037 milligrams


Traditionally, cherry fruit can be used to treat gout. The way is also very easy. Eating nine grain cherry fruit three times a day is proven to reduce pain caused by gout.

Cherry leaves contain tannin compounds, flavonoids and saponins making it useful as an antibacterial. Cherry leaves decoction proven to kill harmful bacteria, such as Corynebacterium diphtheria, Staphylococcus aurous, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus epidermises, and Kocuria rhizophila. Cherry leaves decoction can also be used as anti-inflammatory (inflammatory) and fever. Not only that, the content of cherry leaf flavonoid compounds found to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in vitro (in laboratory).

Cherry leaves can be presented in the form of tea. Leaves that have sun drying brewed with hot water.

There are several benefits that can be obtained from the fruit for our health. Although not a lot of research, but a lot of people who already believe and prove the efficacy of this tiny fruit. Here are some health benefits for the body and treating disease:
  1. Reducing pain due to uric acid.
    Singapore cherry fruit is proven to reduce the pain of gout. Therefore, singapore cherry fruits contain low levels of purines. High water content in the fruit cherry can dissolve purine that settles in the kidneys or joints. The content is what makes singapore cherry  fruits able to cope with gout.
  2. Overcoming diabetic.
    The use of singapore cherry leaf to lower sugar levels of diabetics has been done long ago. Some scientists researching singapore cherry leaves knowing that the singapore cherry leaves contain a chemical compound type of saponins and flavonoids. Flavonoid compounds can act as an antioxidant, which can secrete the hormone insulin which is needed to sugar metabolism.
  3. Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and Anti-tumor.
    Singapore cherry leaf also has benefits as antitumor, because it contains tannin, flavonoids, and saponins. Cherry leaf decoction can be antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.
  4. Overcoming constipation.
    People who constipation can take a few grains of singapore cherry fruit that was smooth bowel movement. It proves that the singapore cherry fruit contains quite high of fiber.

Health is indeed expensive, but to keep them healthy sometimes does not have to be expensive. Singapore cherry fruit and leaves could be one option for cheap, but also easily obtained.