General
info
The genus Artocarpus (Moraceae) comprise about 50 species of evergreen and deciduous trees; an important source of edible fruit, timber and folkloric medicinal use.
Breadnut (kamansi, Artocarpus camansi)
is often confused with its close relative breadfruit (A. altilis), but is distinguished by its large spiny fruits with little
pulp and numerous large, light brown seeds.
Botany
Kamansi is a large tree, 10 to 15 meters high, similar in habit to Artocarpus altilis. Leaves are large, leathery, ovate to oblong-ovate, 40 to 60 cm long, 25 to 45 cm wide, with deeply incised margins, 4- to 5-lobed. Male spikes are cylindric, greenish-yellow, 15 to 25 cm long, and 3 to 4 cm in diameter. Fruit is green, ovoid or somewhat rounded, up to 20 cm in diameter with a spiny surface, with little pulp. Seeds are numerous, light brown, ovoid, rounded, about 2.5 cm in diameter.
Kamansi differs from rimas (A. altilis) in the following: Fruit is seeded, the anthocarps are narrowly conical and prolonged, male inflorescence is club-shaped, stigmas are elongated, and the leaves have more divisions.
Distribution
Grows in tropical regions,
especially in seacoast areas.
Occasional in the Quezon province.
Parts
used and preparation
Leaves and fruit.
Constituents
- Artocarpus species are rich in phenolic compounds including flavonoids, stilbenoids, arylbenzofurons and Jacalin, a lectin.
- Oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acid comparing well with melon seeds, soybean and groundnut oil.
Properties
- Vulnerary, laxative.
- Seeds are nutritive. (See below)
Uses
Nutritional
Fruits, particulary the young ones, are boiled and eaten as a vegetable.
Seeds are rich in starch, eaten boiled or roasted.
Ripe fruit is sweet. and flavorsome.
Seed is rich in protein, low in fat; rich in minerals, esp niacin.
Folkloric
Breadfruit is laxative.
Heated up, the slices are used for furuncles.
Decoction of leaves used for baths in rheumatism.
Tree latex used for hernia in children, applied with a belt or truss.
Decoction of bark used for dysentery.
Decoction of bark used as vulnerary.
Latex massaged onto skin, for broken bones and sprains and bandaged
on the spine are for sciatica.
Crushed leaves used for thrush.
Diluted latex used for diarrhea, stomach aches and dysentery.
Juice from stems of leaves for ear infections.
In the West Indies, decoction
of yellowing leaf used for high blood pressure and asthma.
Tea also used for diabetes.
Studies
• Infant Food Formuation:
New product development studies have been carried out to formulate an infant food from breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) pulp and breadnut (A camansi) seeds to provide a nutritious and palatable alternative.
• Nutritional Composition of Breadnut Seeds:
Study showed the proximate composition of seeds as: protein, 4.87%; fat, 3.48%; and carbohydrate, 26.11%; ash, 3.43%, crude fiber, 1.20%. Highest mineral content was phosphorus, 363 mg/kg; potassium, 325 mg/kg; and sodium, 248 mg/kg. Predominant essential amino acid were leucine, phenylalanine, arginine, isoleucine, and lysine - in decreasing order. Oil was rich in palmitic 21.4%, oleic 12.4% and linolenic acid 14.8%. Results suggest the breadnut seed can be used as composite flour and a source of edible oil for human consumption.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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