Maypops fruit (Passiflora incarnata) is a stunningly beautiful purple flower, native to the Americas and have been used as a folk medicine for treating cuts and bruises. Today, modern herbalists see a newer perspectives to it; used as a tonic to treat stress, anxiety, or restlessness.
They are also remarkable in being an easy-to-grow and low maintenance garden plant. Despite being rather unpopular on the Eastern side of the world, but then it doesn’t stop maypops to be a marvellous plant, which will be explained further on all things about maypops fruit as well as the health benefits of maypops fruit.
All About Maypops Fruit
Maypops fruit are an oval yellowish berry with the size of a chicken egg. Initially, it is green, but as it matures, it becomes yellow. When stepped on, the fruit produces a “pop” sound – perhaps that is where the name of the fruit is from.
Maypops thrive where there is lots of sunlight such as in open fields. In return, it is almost impossible for one to spot maypops in shady areas like forest canopies.
What are its Health Benefits?
If the depression or anxiety in question is related to menopause, then maypop fruits are the best solution to that. Its alkaloids have the power to alleviate related symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.
When one experiences a hard time to sleep at night, try using maypop fruits! They are mildly sedative herbs that produces a relaxing effect so that one can sleep easier gradually.
Antioxidant compounds such as vitexin, isovitexin, kaempferol, quercetin, rutin, apigenin, alkaloids, and etc are well represented inside maypops. Quercetin in particular is proven to be especially effective in getting rid of the body’s free radical molecules and inhibits enzymes that leads to inflammation.
Studies have indicated that using the extract that belongs to maypops may also contribute to the decline of hypertension or high blood pressure treatments.
In fact, a daily cup of maypop flower tea is effective in lowering down blood pressure for those who have mild hypertension! However, one must also note that maypops can also lower down blood pressure to the extreme minimum.
Finally, here is one folk treatment that maypops have been offering for centuries ago. Crushed leaves of the fruit are applied into the affected area for treatment of the above conditions using maypops.
Cultivation and Culinary Uses
Maypop plants in its native United States is a popular easy-to-grow and low maintenance plant that can be designed to adorn fences or arbours.
In the wild, maypops grow aggressively. When the weather is favourable, the vines can carpet the ground in a matter of days only. In order for maypop plants to be able to grow at its optimum, it requires full sunlight for half a day with a well-drained soil.
On the other hand, maypop fruits are also popular to be made into various foodstuff, such as jams, jellies, desserts, and benefits of sugarcane juice for eyes. It can also be eaten using hand, with the flavour of raw maypop fruit being slightly sweet with a pleasant scent when it is fully ripe.
Cautions and Recommendations
Never take maypop fruits when one is pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffering from liver damage or liver disease. Maypop fruits may also interfere with blood thinning or blood pressure medications, therefore consult the doctor first before finally consuming it.
And finally, due to the relaxing and sedative effects that maypops provide, one should not operate machines or even drive upon consumption of maypops.