Japanese loquat / Níspero japonés
Scientific Name: Eriobotrya japonica
Origin: Asia
Botanical Family: Rosaceae
Nispero is a tropical, evergreen tree native to China and Japan, known for its sweet to sub-acid fruits and medicinal properties.
Brief History and Description
Nispero is native to China and Japan. It is a tropical evergreen shrub or tree with alternate, simple leaves that are leathery, veiny, and toothed. The loquat is a tree of moderate size and may reach 20 to 30 feet (6–9 meters). Fruits are pomes, held in clusters of 4 to 30, oval to round to pear-shaped, and 2 to 5 centimeters long. The peel is smooth to slightly downy, light yellow to orange. The pulp is white to light yellow to orange, sweet to sub-acid, and juicy. There may be 1 to 10 dark brown seeds. There are two types of this fruit. Algeria is the type with sweet yellow fruits that are consumed fresh. The second type is Tanaka, which is larger and has a bright orange color with a sourer taste.
Culinary Usage and Nutritional Properties
Nispero is a low-calorie and highly nutritious fruit containing carbs, protein, fiber, provitamin A, vitamin B6, folate (vitamin B9), magnesium, potassium, manganese, and antioxidants Nispero is consumed as desserts, sauces, jams, or just eaten as they are.
Economic and Environmental aspects
The high demand for Nispero is due to its medicinal properties and taste and the lack of competition in this market. As such, it is more profitable to invest in planting it.
It is an evergreen plant and, therefore, environmentally beneficial. The tree is a screening plant that captures the eye and acts as a focal point in an outdoor landscape. It attracts hummingbirds and bees.
Annual Yield
A loquat tree may yield up to 250-300 kg per year.
Pharmacological Activities and Bio-active Properties
Nispero leaves contain ursolic acid and oleanolic acid, which both have hypoglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects,
The Nispero leaves are used against various skin diseases, cough, nausea, and itching,1
Its vitamin A is important to visual and dental health.2
Nispero is particularly high in carotenoid antioxidants, which prevent cellular damage, and also precursors to vitamin A, which is essential for healthy vision, immune function, and cellular growth,
Promotes heart health,
Some research suggests that extracts of the skin, leaves, and seeds of Nispero have anticancer effects,
Some research suggests that Nispero has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.3
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