PROPERTIES/ACTIONS:
Astringent, Nutritive, Antifungal

COMMON NAMES:
Acerola, Cereso, Barbados Cherry, Antilles Cherry

PHYTOCHEMICALS:
Ascorbic-acid, Dextrose, Calcium, Fructose, Iron, l-Malic Acid, Magnesium, Niacin,
Pantothenic-acid, Phosphorus, Potassium, Protein, Riboflavin, Sucrose, Thiamine

Malpighia glabra is small tree or shrub that grows up to 5 meters in height in the dry deciduous forest and can be found growing wild and under cultivation on the sandy soils throughout Northeast Brazil. It is native to the West Indies and is also found in northern South America, Central America and Jamaica.(1-3) Acerola is the fruit of the tree. It is bright red and 1 to 2 cm in diameter. The mature fruits are juicy and soft with a pleasant tart flavor and they contain about 80% juice.

It's western use is mostly associated with its high content of Vitamin C. Malpighia glabra has also shown active anti-fungal properties. It can now be found in many over-the counter supplements in America as a natural form of Vitamin C in multi-vitamins. Recent research in cosmetology indicates that vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenger for the skin as well. For this reason Acerola extracts are now appearing in skin care products which fight cellular aging. In addition to its vitamin content, Acerola contains mineral salts which has shown to aid in the remineralization of tired and stressed skin, while the mucilage and proteins have skin hydrating properties and promote capillary conditioning.

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be used to diagnose, prescribe or replace the advice of a qualified physician.