I was in the middle of writing another stirring entry about mix-ups in Caribbean bush medicine, when I came across a little note in my notes. It was a note about a fruit I grew up eating to the point of abuse.  This little note of mine took me back a year or so when I was so young and confident that, after so many years, I knew all there was to know about this particular fruit. I knew it as “plum rose”, and, though so long ago, I still remember how eagerly we children would wait for plum rose season. To this day, this fruit remains the one fruit (besides the soursop) which could tempt me out of any foul mood.  Some may describe its taste as an almost sort of bland and very watery sweet.  But, I've had plum roses (rosy red ones) that are anything but bland and very/too watery- though very sweet.

I certainly cannot say I remember any villager using any part of the plum rose tree- fruit/leaves/flowers/bark for any medicinal purpose. So, you can imagine my surprise a year ago when I came across a website which declared the tree quite useful in bush medicine. That familiar feeling, of not really knowing the world of fauna and flora in which I grew up, hit me. And, I made a note to ask my elderly friends about these allegations.  And, the note remained forgotten in my notes until last week. Now, I’m determined once again to investigate the charges being brought against this fruit which looks like a cross between a plum, a rose and an apple.

To this end: Is there anyone out there who can share what they know about the medicinal uses of the plum rose tree? It seems it’s also known as Malacca apple, Malay apple, Water apple and Otaheite apple?

 Anyone?

Here’s a bit of what I’ve found from my not yet thorough search (online):

From Purdue University’s New Crop Resource Online Program- a page on the plum rose or “malay apple”.

Medicinal Uses: According to Akana's translation of Hawaiian Herbs of Medicinal Value, the astringent bark has been much used in local remedies. It is pounded together with salt, the crushed material is strained through coconut husk fiber, and the juice poured into a deep cut. "The patient must exercise absolute self-control as the liquid bums its way into the flesh and nerves.

In the Molucca, or Spice, Islands, a decoction of the bark is used to treat thrush. Malayans apply a powder of the dried leaves on a cracked tongue. A preparation of the root is a remedy for itching. The root acts as a diuretic and is given to alleviate edema. The root bark is useful against dysentery, also serves as an emmenagogue and abortifacient. Cambodians take a decoction of the fruit, leaves or seeds as a febrifuge. The juice of crushed leaves is applied as a skin lotion and is added to baths. In Brazil, various parts of the plant are used as remedies for constipation, diabetes, coughs, pulmonary catarrh, headache and other ailments. Seeded fruits, seeds, bark and leaves have shown antibiotic activity and have some effect on blood pressure and respiration.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/malay_apple.html

From South Beach Nursery & Landscaping Services- a list of aliases:

 Plant Type:Fruit

Scientific Name: Syzygium malaccense 

Common Name(s)Otaheite Apple, Malay Apple, Jamaican Apple, Malacca Apple, Tahitian Apple, Ball Guava (jambu bol - Indonesia),Otaheite Cashew, Pommerac (derived from pomme du lac, meaning "Milk Apple" in French), Malacca Apple, Rose Apple, Water Apple, Mountain Apple, Pomarosa or Plum Rose 

http://www.southbeachnursery.com/plants/search-by/tags/Malacca%20Apple.html

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