Lucuma

Pouteria lucuma

High quality minerals such as iron, calcium and zinc; niacins like vitamin A
and B3; antioxidant; and it helps lower cholesterol and triglycerides. In
ancient records, lucuma fruit was said to be used to aid skin health.

Native to the temperate highlands of Ecuador and Peru, lucuma, also known as 'lucma', has not strayed far in modern times from its original Andean lands, where it has been a staple food and favorite fruit for over 2,000 years. Not considered a tropical plant, it has successfully grown in other temperate conditions up through Central America and part of Mexico.

Lucuma is particularly rich in polyphenolic compounds, which have powerful anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant actions. Thanks to this high antioxidant content, the lucuma fruit may help reduce the incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, as well as other chronic health conditions.

The dihydrokaempferol glycosides contained in lucuma are important flavonoid compounds with anti-inflammatory activity, which play a role in the wound healing and skin-restorative benefits of the fruit. This compound has also been reported to stimulate insulin, which regulates glucose metabolism, thus helping improve conditions in type 2 diabetes.

On the other hand, lucuma also possess gallic acid, which stimulates the creation of new blood vessels, helps regulate blood pressure, and it is instrumental for cardiovascular function.

The agreeable sweetness and subtle flavor of the lucuma fruit are due to a combination of sugars, namely glucose, fructose, sucrose, and inositol. Inositol, in particular, is a glycoside that plays a crucial role in the metabolic actions of insulin, thus helping regulate glucose levels in the human body.

Additionally, the lucuma nut oil possesses omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, which have hypotensive properties and help in protein creation. These two main active acids in the oil provide therapeutic abilities that can alleviate itching and drying, which are two major symptoms of many skin conditions.

This information is gathered directly from:
https://www.herbazest.com/herbs/lucuma