Wonder Fruit By Helen del Rosario Soyuz Foods International, Inc. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Calamansi: The Next Wonder Fruit By Helen del Rosario Soyuz Foods International, Inc.

Inside SFII I. II. Results of Years of Research III. Impact on Human Health IV. Where Do We Go From Here

Mission : To forge partnership with farmers groups and agriculture entrepreneurs through sustainable development initiatives, in order to improve their living conditions and minimize poverty in the farming sector. Vision : To export our native calamansi (citrofortunella microcarpa) and other citrus fruits in single strength, concentrate and powdered form with quality that meets international standards.

 Pectin  Used as stabilizer in medicines  Anti-inflammatory agent to relieve pain of arthritis and hemorrhoids  Heavy metal poisoning chelator  Lowers high cholesterol  Limonene  Used in cancer treatment and prevention  Also has applications for weight loss and bronchitis  Dietary Fiber  Regularizes bowel movement, removes toxic wastes  Lowers total cholesterol (hypolipidemic activity)

 Synephrine  Stimulant found in weight loss products  Neo-decongestant and broncho-dilator  Prevents premature labor contractions  Pupil (eye) dilator  Hyaluronic Acid  Used in cosmetic products  Ferrulic Acid  Inhibits progression of Alzheimers Disease  Applications in treatment of auto-immune disease

Soyuz Foods International Inc.(SFII) in cooperation with the Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) has conducted preliminary clinical studies on the impact of calamansi on:  Prevention of Colds  Blood pressure  Lipid profiles (cholesterol) Parallel studies conducted on the Antiangiogenic and Antioxidant Properties of Calamansi Peel by the University of Immaculate Conception (UIC)

 40 healthy respondents, male and female, 18 to 60 years old, were divided into two groups  One group treated daily with 50ml of pure calamansi extract, the other group with 50ml of flavored water  Both groups were monitored for incidence of common colds over a 2 month period The difference in incidence of common cold between control and treatment groups was determined to be insignificant.

Explanation for negative findings:  Treatment group was given processed (pasteurized) calamansi extract  Heat used in pasteurization is known to remove Vitamin C, among others Recommendations:  Focus on cold alleviation instead of prevention (Synephrine, a neo-decongestant is found in calamansi)  Conduct larger study covering a longer period to increase statistical determination  Use fresh calamansi instead of pasteurized extract if effect on prevention is to be measured

 30 pre-hypertensive subjects divided into experimental and control groups  Both groups asked to follow the same restricted diet for 30 days  Experimental group were also given 50ml of processed pure calamansi extract daily Mean arterial pressures before and after the  trials were compared

After 30 days:  The average decline in mean arterial pressure was higher in the experimental group, though not statistically significant Recommendation:  Conduct larger study covering a longer period to increase statistical determination (reduction in blood pressure of both experimental and control groups. 30 days was too small to provide statistical  significance)

 22 male subjects, between 20 to 55 years old, with LDL levels below 130mg/dL randomly divided into experimental and control groups  Both groups were briefed on the importance of regular exercise and a balanced diet  Experimental group took 50ml of processed pure calamansi extract daily, while control group were given 50ml of flavored water Serum lipid profiles before and after 30 days of  the trial were compared

After 30 days:  The experimental group’s lipid profile:  Mean total cholesterol declined from 213 to 199  Mean LDL (bad cholesterol) declined from 116 to 46  Mean HDL (good cholesterol) improved 46 to 115  Unfortunately, the improvements were not found to be statistically significant compared to control Recommendation:  Conduct larger study covering a longer period to increase statistical determination

 Calamansi oil from peel has antiangiogenic and antioxidant properties  Prevents formation of new blood vessels that may lead to producing tumors  Potent to scavenge free radicals and help maintain a strong immune system  Can inhibit rheumatoid arthritis and the propagation of cancer cells  Pure calamansi oil is non-toxic up to 2,000mg per kg of body weight

 Effect of Calamansi Pectin on Plasma Lipid Profile in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits (Dr Eva San Juan, UIC Davao City)  Calamansi Oil as Anti-Cariogenic for Strptococcus Mutans and Lactobacillus Acidophilus (Destin Mahinay, UIC Davao City) Thesis Topics What are the important amino acids in calamansi? 1. What components in calamansi has anti- 2. histaminic activity? Calamansi vs Glutathione 3. Synephrine for weight loss 4.

 For calamansi to be accepted for use in pharmaceuticals, there must be enough supply of produce from certified and qualified farms  Processors need to be trained on proper and effective extraction of components needed  Clinical studies to support the efficacy of calamansi against various illnesses need to be conducted, preferably by Filipinos

 Ateneo de Davao, Chemistry Department  University of Immaculate Conception, Pharmacy Department  Department of Science and Technology  Davao Medical School Foundation  Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care  Davao Herbal Research and Processing Plant  Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry (PIPAC)

“Take one step, you don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take one step.” -Martin Luther King THANK YOU

Calamansi . . . . “Small fruit, BIG dream” THANK YOU