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Brilio.net/en - You might have seen this fruit before. People in some areas of Indonesia eat this as vegetables in their main dishes. In Indonesia this is called as tekokak fruit, terong pipit or rimbangor known as cepokak in Java. Its Latin name is Solanum torvum. Some other countries call it as susumber (in Jamaica), kudanekayi (in Kannada), thibbatu (in Sinhala), sundaikkai (in Tamil), makhuea phuang (in Thailand), suzume nasu (in Japan), turkey berry, devils fig, prickly nightshade, shoo-shoo bush, tomatillo, pea aubergine, pea eggplant, wild eggplant, or mini-eggplant. The shape of this fruit is small and round like berry. It is green when its young and turns yellow when it is ripe.
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This fruit is categorized in the eggplant family and the tree can be grafted to the eggplant tree. The combination of these two can make the tekokak tree much bigger, tolerant of diseases affecting the root system and bear many fruits for several years. Tekokak tree, the bushy and spiny perennial plant, can be found growing wild in house yards, parks or in the rice fields. Farmers usually dont plant this tree in particular because it doesnt have such a high selling point, until now. People might have planted one or two of the tree just for their meal or as herbal medicine ingredient. Perhaps once we know more about its benefits then more people will farm this tree.
Like all other fruits, tekokak also has its function for the human body. This fruit can cure nearsighted eyes or myopia because it contains vitamin A just like carrots. Eat 5-10 pieces of this fruit regularly everyday and in a few months you can expect to feel a difference in your eyes. Gradually, you might see better and more clearly. You can also make juice in larger quantities and have it once or twice a week. Plus, avoid looking at radiated glasses such as TV, cell phone monitor or laptop.
Besides the vitamin A, tekokak tree and fruit also has other chemical contents. The raw fruit contains chlorogenine, sisalogenone, solasodine and torvogenine. The dry fruit has 0.1% of solasonine, the root has jurubine, and the leaf contains neo-chlorogenine and panicolugenine that could cure a headache and beating heart. These chemical substances have made tekokak rich in benefits for blood circulation so it is good for women who have irregular menstruation. This fruit can also treat lower back pain and pain in the chest, as well as act as an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Tekokak might taste bitter on your tonguebut if you want to be cured just focus on your goal of healing your nearsighted eyes and have a gulp of this fruit regularly!
(brl/tis)
