What is Jackfruit?
Jackfruit, also known as jack tree, fenne, or sometimes simply jack, is related to breadfruit and originated in India. It is part of the mulberry or fig family and is currently found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide including Southeast Asia, Africa, and Brazil [R, R].
The jackfruit fruit contains fleshy bulbs and starchy seeds, both of which are used as food. This tree produces the highest yield and largest known edible fruit (average weight of 10 kg) than any other fruit tree species [R, R].
Jackfruit is rich in phytonutrients such as phenols and flavonoids and has been studied for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer, and antidiabetic qualities [R, R, R, R, R, R].
Components
Jackfruit pulp has many valuable micronutrients including [R]:
Raw jackfruit flesh is regarded as a good source of carbohydrates. A 100 g portion of ripe jackfruit flesh has 94 calories, 23 g carbohydrate, and 1.5 g fiber. This fiber content is believed to contribute to the jackfruits’ relatively low blood sugar response when compared to sugar and other tropical fruits [R, R, R].
One 100 g portion of jackfruit flesh can provide up to 25% of the recommended daily amount of niacin (vitamin B3), a key vitamin in energy production, nerve function, and hormone production [R].
The jackfruit seed can be boiled or roasted and preserved in syrup like chestnuts, or ground into a meal and blended with wheat flour. The pulp and seed are often ground together into a meal commonly eaten in Sri Lanka [R, R].
Mechanism of Action
Jackfruit extracts and isolated flavonoids reduce inflammation in cells by decreasing mediators of inflammation (COX-1 and 2, nitric oxide, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) [R, R, R].
Extracts from jackfruit suppress cancer growth by selectively increasing programmed cell death (apoptosis) in cancer cells. Apoptosis is increased by:
- Activating enzymes (caspase) involved in apoptosis [R, R]
- Preventing cell division of the cancer cell cycle [R]
- Changing the cancer cell’s structure and shape [R]
- Decreasing enzymes that influence cancer cell reproduction, survival, and movement [R]
Lectins from jackfruit stimulate cells to eliminate harmful fungi and prevent widespread fungalinfections. This immune response occurs by the lectins increasing production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-12) which then increases white blood cells at the site of infection [R].
Health Benefits
1) Jackfruit May Benefit Diabetes
In a pilot trial, jackfruit leaf extracts taken as a tea (20g/kg body weight) improved blood sugar tolerance in normal and diabetic patients [R].
Treatment of healthy and diabetic rats with jackfruit leaf or stem bark extracts lowered fasting blood sugar levels, improved tolerance to sugar, and/or increased bloodinsulin levels. This antidiabetic activity was due to the high flavonoid content in the jackfruit extracts [R, R, R, R].
Jackfruit leaf extracts had more potent antidiabetic activity than tolbutamide and glibenclamide, 2 drugs used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes to stimulate insulin release [R, R].
In the lab and in rat blood, jackfruit extracts stopped enzyme activity linked to starch breakdown, suggesting the use of jackfruit for blood sugar control [R].
Plant flavonoids, like quercetin, are present in large amounts in both the jackfruit leaf and seed and are likely responsible for the fruit’s antidiabetic activity [R].
2) Jackfruit Fights Cancer
Phenols, flavonoids, and lectins in the jackfruit are the most promising compounds to protect against and kill cancer cells. These phytochemicals are produced in the jackfruit fruit, peel, seeds, and wood [R, R, R].
Phenol-rich extracts from the wood of the jackfruit tree increased programmed cell death(apoptosis) in breast, liver, and lung cancer cells [R].
The pulp from jackfruit was protective against gene mutationsand reduced rapid growth of mouse cancer cells [R].
Colon Cancer
Jacalin, a lectin extracted from jackfruit seeds, reduced precancerous lesions in mice with early stages of colon cancer [R].
Flavonoids extracted from jackfruit seeds were toxic to human colon cancer cells by selectively inducing apoptosis [R].
Leukemia
Lectins extracted from jackfruit seeds increased apoptosis and reduced the growth of cancer cells in leukemia cells lines [R, R].
Breast Cancer
Extracts from jackfruit wood were selectively toxic to human breast cancer cells by increasing apoptosis and altering the shape of the cancer cells [R].
Prostate Cancer
In the lab, flavonoids extracted from jackfruit twigs reduced growth and multiplication of human prostate cancer cells [R].
Liver Cancer
Lectins extracted from jackfruit seeds protected mice against liver cancer by blocking cell cycle and increasing apoptosis in cancer cells [R].
Throat Cancer
Jackfruit extracts were toxic to throat cancer cells in the lab by changing cell structure and increasing apoptosis in cancer cells [R].
Lung Cancer
In the lab, several flavonoids extracted from jackfruit twigs reduced activity of human lung cancer cells as measured by a decrease in the growth of cancer cells [R].
3) Jackfruit Combats Pathogens
Bacteria
Extracts from the root bark, pulp, leaves, and stems of jackfruit have broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against numerous gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. These bacteria include those causing tooth decay (Streptococcus mutans), strep throat (Streptococcus pyogenes) as well as foodborne pathogens (Listeria and Salmonella species) [R, R, R, R, R].
Both jackfruit leaf and shell extracts inhibited the growth of food-borne pathogens including, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. This activity was strongest in shell extracts, likely because of their higher flavonoid content [R, R].
Flavonoids from jackfruit wood (artocarpin) slowed the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria in the lab. The flavonoids also enhanced the antimicrobial activities of several synthetic antibiotics (tetracycline, ampicillin, and norfloxacin) likely by altering the membrane permeability of the bacteria [R, R].
In the lab, extracts from jackfruit latex slowed the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria associated with antibioticresistance [R].
Two flavonoids extracted from jackfruit leaves reduced the growth of bacteria linked to the formation and progression of tooth decay (Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis) [R].
Viruses
Jacalin, a jackfruit lectin, blockedhuman immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infection of immune systemcells by binding to the surface of CD4, an immune cell and known receptor for the HIV [R, R].
In the lab, jackfruit extracts suppressed 2 herpes viruses(herpes simplex 2 and varicella-zoster) and the rare cytomegalovirus [R].
Fungus
In the lab, lectins extracted from jackfruit seeds slowed the growth of three fungi (Fusarium moniliforme, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis). The lectins stimulated an immune response by increasing inflammatory cytokines (IL-12), which killed the invading fungus [R, R].
Parasites
Jackfruit lectins increased the elimination of the parasite Leishmania major from human white blood cells (neutrophils). The lectins increased mediators of cell inflammation (TNF-α and IL-1β), pancreatic enzymes (elastase), and elevated antimicrobial activity in the cells [R].
Yeast
Purified enzymes extracted from jackfruit inhibited the growth of Candida albicans, a harmful yeast common in the human gut [R].
4) Jackfruit Has Antioxidant Effects
Three flavonoid antioxidants extracted from jackfruit reduced fat breakdown in rat brains by scavenging free radicals [R].
The antioxidant activity of jackfruit is linked to its phenolic andflavonoid content. These compounds are high in the jackfruit peel but also present in the fruit pulp, roots, twigs, and leaves [R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R].
According to several studies, the high vitamin C, phenol, and flavonoid content of the jackfruit are correlated with its protective effects against free radicalsinvolved in the development of diseases such as cancer [R, R, R].
5) Jackfruit May Reduce Inflammation
Jackfruit peel extracts inhibited the COX-1 inflammatory mediatorin rats in a way that was comparable to the standard anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac [R].
In the lab, jackfruit peel extracts and isolated flavonoids inhibited mediators (COX-1 and 2, nitric oxide, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) associated with inflammation and septic shock. The level of anti-inflammatory activity in the jackfruit peel extracts was similar to diclofenac, a standard anti-inflammatory drug [R, R, R, R].
6) Jackfruit Is a Natural Anticoagulant
In mice, jackfruit seed extracts delayed blood clot formation by reducing blood clot promoters, epinephrine, and collagen [R].
In the lab, purified enzymes (proteases), seed extracts, and latex derived from jackfruit reduced blood clotting. This suggests a potential use in the treatment of disorders related to obstructed blood flow from clots (strokes, lung embolisms, and deep vein thrombosis) [R, R, R].
7) Jackfruit May Improve Immune Function
Jackfruit seed lectins increased white blood cells (mast cells) in the bone marrow of rats, suggesting a role for this extract in stimulating immune response [R].
Lectins from jackfruit seed activated an immune responseagainst introduced pathogens by stimulating white blood cellproduction (mast cells and neutrophils) and increasing inflammatory cytokines (IL-17) in the lab and in rats [R, R, R].
8) Jackfruit May Help Heal Wounds
Jackfruit leaf extracts had the same wound healing activity as a pharmaceutical grade antiseptic cream (Betadine) in healthy mice [R].
Out of 98 plant extracts tested in the lab, jackfruit showed the greatest potential for wound healing activity as measured by its ability to increase prostaglandin-2 levels, an important hormone-like molecule that accelerates wound healing [R].
9) Jackfruit Can Help Maintain Bone Health
Flavonoids extracted from jackfruit roots reduced an enzyme (cathepsin K) involved in the breakdown of bone and cartilage,suggesting its application for bone-related disorders like osteoporosis[R].
Natural pectin derived from jackfruit peel was biologically compatible with collagen and tissue stem cells and may be useful in bone grafting [R].
10) Jackfruit May Improve Digestion
The high fiber content in jackfruit pulp may help preventconstipation and support healthy bowel movements [R].
Jackfruit seed contains prebiotic fibers that may support the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system [R].
11) Jackfruit May Decrease the Risk of Heart Disease
Jackfruit leaf extracts decreasedtotal cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in type 2 diabetic mice. This was likely due to the high content of antioxidant flavonoid in the extracts, specifically quercetin [R].
12) Jackfruit Leaves May Improve Oral Health
In the lab, 2 flavonoids extracted from jackfruit leaves reduced the growth of bacteria linked to the formation and progression of tooth decay (Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis)
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