HUAYA: CHARACTERISTICS, PROPERTIES AND EFFECTS - BIOLOGY - 2025

The huaya (Melicoccus bijugatus) is a tree native to northern South America, cultivated in tropical America, Africa and Asia. In its place of origin it is known as mamón and in other regions as mamoncillo, maco, huaya or quenapa.

It is a dioecious, evergreen plant that can reach up to 30 m in height. The flowers are greenish-white and the fruits are green when ripe. The seed is surrounded by an edible salmon-colored aril.

Huaya (Melicoccus bijugatus). Source: Acarcano, from Wikimedia Commons.

Melicoccus bijugatus belongs to the Sapindaceae family and was described in 1760 by Jacquin. It is highly appreciated for the aril flavor, which is consumed fresh or in the form of juices and preserves.

It has different medicinal properties associated with the presence of flavonoids and other chemical compounds. Both the aril and the seed are used to treat diarrhea, constipation, asthma and as a dewormer.

The effect of the species against cancer has not been scientifically proven. However, due to its antioxidant capacity it is considered that it could be useful in the prevention of the disease.

characteristics

Huaya (Melicoccus bijugatus) is a highly appreciated species for the flavor of its fruits. It is widely cultivated in tropical regions and is known by different common names. The most frequent names are mamón or mamoncillo, but quenapa, huaya, limoncillo, mauco and maco are also used.

Description

Fruit of Melicoccus bijugatus. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

An evergreen tree from 12 to 25 m high, although it can exceptionally reach 30 m. The trunk of the plant tends to be straight and 30 to 60 cm in diameter, with grayish and smooth bark.

The leaves are compound, glabrous (without trichomes), alternate and 15 to 25 cm long. It has paired leaflets, elliptical in shape, with a sharp apex and an entire margin. These are 8 to 11 cm long by 2 to 5 cm wide, the terminal leaves being generally larger.

The species is dioecious (it presents the two sexes in different individuals) and the flowers appear in terminal inflorescences. The male flowers are arranged in panicles and the female ones in clusters.

The flowers, both male and female, are greenish-white. The chalice is made up of four to five pieces 1.5 to 2mm long. The corolla is approximately 3 mm long. They present a nectariferous disk at the base of the flowers.

The fruits are globose drupáceous, 2 to 3 cm in diameter, externally green when ripe. The seed is ellipsoidal in shape, 1 to 2 cm in diameter, surrounded by a salmon-colored aril that is edible.

Habitat and distribution

The species is native to northern South America and the Antilles. However, it is widely cultivated in tropical regions of America, Africa and Asia, and can also be found in some areas of the United States such as Florida and California.

It is distributed in dry and humid tropical forests, from sea level to 1,000 m of altitude. In its natural distribution area it receives a rainfall between 900 to 2,600 mm, with 3 to 5 months of dry period.

Taxonomy

The species belongs to the genus Melicoccus of the Sapindaceae family. The genus Melicoccus is made up of approximately 15 species exclusive to South America and the Antilles.

Melicoccus bijugatus is the first species recognized for the genus. It was described by Nicolaus Jacquin in 1760. The name comes from the Greek meli (honey) and kokkos (rounded), which refers to its fruits. The epithet bijugatus (in pairs) refers to the presence of even leaflets on the leaf.

Cultivation and development

The species is mainly propagated by seed, although it can also be propagated by grafting or layering. It grows in different types of soil, although it prefers humid soils rich in organic matter.

The natural germination of the seeds is slow (starts at 28 days) and germination percentages of 68% can be reached. Seedlings develop very slowly and in some trials only reached 39 cm in height 18 months after sowing.

In cultivation, the seedlings sown in the nursery are transplanted to the field and sown at a distance of 6 x 6 m. Weed control should be done the first two years of sowing, to favor the establishment of the plants.

After establishment, the plants grow to approximately 1 cm in diameter and 0.5 m in height per year for the first 40 years.

Applications

It is grown primarily for the edible value of the aril that surrounds the seed. This aryl contains 77% water, 19% carbohydrates, 2% fibers, 1% protein, 0.4% ash and 0.2% fat.

In 100 grams of pulp are approximately 50 mg of phosphorus, 10 mg of ascorbic acid, 0.2 mg of carotene, 0.8 mg of niacin and 0.02 mg of thiamine.

The seeds have large amounts of protein and are consumed roasted in some regions. Also, the flowers have great melliferous potential.

Fruit and seed of Melicoccus bijugatus. Source: Modified from No machine-readable author provided. Hans B. ~ commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., via Wikimedia Commons

In 2016, an investigation was carried out using the rind of the fruit and its usefulness as a colorant was verified. The high content of phenolic compounds in the fruit allows to obtain reddish to brown colorations that work with different textiles.

Health properties

The pulp and seed of the huaya or mamón have medicinal value, which has been proven with information on the chemical compounds they contain.

The seeds are pulverized and mixed with hot water to treat diarrhea. This is due to the presence of flavonoids such as epicatechin, catechin and procyanidin B12, which act on the colon.

Likewise, the seeds are effective against some parasites such as Cryptosporidium parvum and Encephalitozoon intestinalis. The antiparasitic action is due to the presence of naringenin.

For its part, the pulp of the huaya or mamón (aril of the seed) has been used to control hypertension. Caffeic acid and comaric acid are considered to act on vascular tissues. Also, caffeic acid is effective for treating asthma.

Constipation can be treated with the pulp of the huaya, as it contains ferulic acid. This compound has laxative effects that slow the transit of the colon.

Huaya also contains a large amount of vitamin C and the B complex. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) helps to activate the immune system, which is why it can prevent and cure viral diseases. It also has antioxidant properties, neutralizing free radicals that affect cell membranes.

Due to its high content of niacin (vitamin B3), it has detoxifying or cleansing properties. The pulp also provides thiamine (vitamin B1), which is essential for cell development.

Does it have anti-cancer effects?

There are no conclusive studies on the specific role of the huaya or mamón in the prevention or cure of cancer. However, in various works its high antioxidant content is highlighted as a favorable factor for the prevention of cancer and autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.

In a study carried out in Mexico, the antioxidant capacity of extracts from the fruits of different plants was evaluated. Huaya extract (Melicoccus bijugatus) was found to have greater protection against free radicals.

Other investigations have detected a significant percentage of phenolic compounds (20%), indicating their value in preventing cancer and other diseases due to their antioxidant power.

References

1. Aristeguieta L (1950) Edible fruits of Venezuela. Caracas, Venezuela: La Nación Typography. 50 p.
2. Aristeguieta L (1962) Ornamental trees of Caracas. Caracas, Venezuela: Council for Scientific and Humanistic Development, Central University of Venezuela. 218 p.
3. Bystrom L (2012) The potential health effects of Melicoccus bijugatus Fruits: phytochemical, chemotaxonomic and ethnobotanical investigations. Phytotherapy 83: 266-271.
4. Can-Cauich CA, E Sauri-Duch, D Betancur-Ancona, L Chel-Guerrero GA, González-Aguilar, LF Cuevas-Glory, E Pérez-Pacheco and VM Moo-Huchin (2017) Tropical fruit peel powders as functional ingredients: Evaluation of their bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. Journal of Functional Foods. 37: 501–506.
5. Francis JK (1992) Melicoccus bijugatus Quenepa. SO-ITF-SM-48. New Orleans, LA: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station. 4 p.
6. Hoyos J (1994) Fruit trees in Venezuela (native and exotic). Monograph 36. Second edition. La Salle Society of Natural Sciences. Caracas Venezuela. 381 pp
7. Liogier AH (1978) Dominican trees. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic. 220 p.
8. Lucio-Ramirez, CP, EE Romero, E Sauri-Duch, G Lizama-Uc and V Moo (2015) Protection against AAPH-induced oxidative damage to human erythrocytes using fruit extracts from the Yucatan Peninsula. XVI National Congress of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
9. Vejar A, B Tolosa, J Parra and D Rodríguez-Ordoñez (2016) Use of the shell of the mamón (Melicoccus bijugatus) for the dyeing of fabrics. Advances in Chemistry 11: 123-128.