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Family • Ebenaceae

Mabolo
Diospyros blancoi A. DC.
VELVET APPLE
Mao shi

Scientific names Common names

Cavanillea mabolo Poir. Kamagong (Tag.)
Cavanillea philippinensis Desr. Mabolo (Tag.)
Diospyros blancoi A. DC. Velvet apple (Engl.)
Diospyros discolor Willd. Velvet persimmon (Engl.)
Diospyros durionoides Bakh.
Diospyros malacapal A.DC.
Diospyros merrilii Elmer
Diospyros philippinensis (Desr.) Gürke [Illegitimate]
Diospyros utilis Hemsl.
Embryopteris discolor G.Don. [Illegitimate]
Mabola edulis Raf.
Diospyros blancoi A.DC. is a synonym of Diospyros discolor Willd. The Plant List
Diospyros discolor Willd. is an accepted name The Plant List

Other vernacular names

BANGLADESH: Gab. Bilati gab, Gab gach.
CHINESE: Mao shi, Tai wan shi, Yi se shi
FRENCH: Pommier velours.
INDONESIA: Bisbul.
JAPANESE: Ke gaki
MALAY: Buah lemah, Buan mentega, Buah sagalat, Kamagong, Kayu mentega.
PORTUGUESE: Pecego-de-India.
SPANISH: Camagon.

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Botany
Mabolo is a medium-sized tree growing to a height of 20 meters. Leaves are leathery, oblong, up to 20
centimeters long, with a round base and acute tip. The blade is glossy green, smooth above and softly
hairy below. Female flowers are axillary and solitary, larger than the male. Fruits are fleshy, globose, up
to 8-10 centimeters in diameter, densely covered with short brown hairs. The pulp is edible. The fruit
hairs have to be rubbed off before eating as it can cause peri-oral itching and irritation.

Distribution
In forests, at low and medium altitudes.
A shade tree, it is planted along roads and parks.

Constituents
• Ethyl acetate extract of air-dried leaves yielded (1) isoarborinol methyl ether, (2) a mixture of α-amyrin
palmitate, α-amyrin palmitoleate, ß-amyrin palmitate and ß-amyrin palmitoleate and squalene.
• Yields triterpenes.
• Leaf extract yielded alkaloids, reducing sugar, gum, flavonoids, and tannins.
• Fruit is high in tannin .
• Analysis for phenolic compounds yielded predominant amounts of rosmarinic acid followed by luteolin
and hispidulin.
• Study of methanol extract of twigs yielded four new lanostane-type triterpenes, 24-ethyl-3beta-
methoxylanost-9(11)-en-25-ol (1), 3beta-methoxy-24-methylenelanost-9(11)-en-25-ol (2), 3beta-
methoxy-25-methyl-24-methylenelanost-9(11)-en-21-ol (3) and 3beta-methoxy-24-methyllanosta-
9(11),25-dien-24-ol (4) together with three known triterpenes, betulinaldehyde, betulinic acid methyl
ester, and ursaldehyde. (18)
• Nutritional analysis per 100 g of edible fruit yields 113 kcal, 26.6 g carbohydrates, 1.5 g fiber, 0.1 g fat,
58 mg calcium, 2.8 g protein, 18 mg phosphorus, 0.6 mg iron, 35 IU vitamin A, 0.02 mg thiamine, 0.03
mg riboflavin, 0.03 mg niacin, and 18 mg vitamin C. (19)
• GC and GC-MS study of mabolo fruit for volatile compounds identified 96 compounds characterized the
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the presence of many esters, especially benzyl butyrate (33.9% of total composition), butyl butyrate
(12.5%) and (E)-cinnamyl butyrate (6.8%) (3)
• Nutrient analysis showed the mabolo fruit to be rich in dietary fiber (3.2%) yielding nutrients malic acid
(227.1 mg/100g), vitamin B2 (0.075 mg/100g), vitamin B3 (0.157 mg/100g), folic acid (0.623 mg/100g),
pantothenic acid (0.19 mg/100g), and choline chloride (62.52 mg/100g), and rich in mineral, calcium
(42.8 mg/100g) and zinc (3.6 mg/100g). (see study below) (21)

Properties
• It has an unpleasant, foul cheesy odor which can be dissipated by skin removal and processing.
• Considered astringent, antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial.
• Studies have suggested antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-diarrheal, anti-
tumor, anti-asthma, vasorelaxant properties.

Parts utilized
Roots and leaves.

Uses
Edibility / Nutrition
- Fruit is edible, the tannin content declining as it ripens.
- A good source of vitamins A, C, and minerals.
- Studies show the fruit has good nutritive value and suggest use for making cakes and tarts. (14)
Folkloric
- Bark and leaves used for itchy skin ailments.
- Decoction of bark for coughs.
- Bark used for fevers, dysentery and diarrhea.
- In Southeast Asia, juice of unripe fruit used for wounds.
- Oil from seeds used for diarrhea and dysentery.
- Infusion of fruit used as gargle in aphthous stomatitis.
- In Bangladesh, juice of bark and leave used for snakebites.
- The Kavirajes of Balidha village in Jessore, Bangladesh, use seeds as aphrodisiac.
- Bark and leaves used as eyewash.
- In Siddha medicine, gum is used to consolidate watery semen.

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Studies
• Antioxidant: Antioxidant and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)-induced effects of selected Taiwanese plants:
12 selected indigenous Taiwanese plants, including Diospyros discolor, were studied for their antioxidant
activity, superoxide radicals scavenging and reducing power activities. D discolor extracts, among
others, showed to contain abundant phenolic constituents suggesting a potential source of natural
antioxidants. (1)
• Bioactive Triterpenes / Antibacterial / Analgesic / Anti-inflammatory / Dried Leaves: Ethyl acetate
extract of air-dried leaves yielded (1) isoarborinol methyl ether, (2) a mixture of α-amyrin palmitate, α-
amyrin palmitoleate, ß-amyrin palmitate and ß-amyrin palmitoleate and squalene. Compounds 1 and 2
showed antibacterial activity against E coli, P aeruginosa, C albicans, Staph aureus and T.
mentagrophytes. Sample 2 showed analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. (2)
• Chemical Composition / Volatile Components: Study yielded 96 compounds of which the fruit
characterized by the existence of many esters – benzyl butyrate (33.9%), butyl butyrate (12.5% and (E)-
cinnamyl butyrate (6.8%). (3)
• Constituents / Antioxidant / Antimicrobial: Leaf extract yielded tannins and alkaloids. It showed
statistically significant free radical scavenging activity. It showed antidiarrheal property with an increase
in latent period of diarrheal induction. Extract also showed significant antimicrobial activity and significant
lethality in brine shrimp assay. (5)
• Anti-Asthma: Methanolic extract showed anti-inflammatory activity in an airway inflammation mouse
model. Histological exam of lung tissue showed marked attenuation of allergen-induced eosinophilic
inflammation and mucus-producing goblet cells in the airway. (6)
• Biofuel Potential: Mabolo, a much neglected fruit in the Philippines, was studied as a possible
inexpensive source of biofuel. An ethanolic extract proved to be as effective as alcohol fuel. On emission
testing, it emitted the least amount of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, compared with commercial
regular and unleaded gasoline. (7)
• Antidiarrheal: Evaluation of antidiarrheal potential was done on ethanolic extracts of three Bangladesh
medicinal plants. Results on ethanolic extracts of leaves of D. blancoi and bark of Acacia nilotica suggest
antidiarrheal activities. Results were comparable to standard antidiarrheal drug loperamide. (8)
• Antidiarrheal / Antioxidant: Study showed antidiarrheal activity in a castor-oil induced mice model,
with significant reductions in faecal output. Extract also showed dose-dependent antioxidant activity in a
DPPH-scavenging assay. (9) In a study designed to evaluate the antidiarrheal activity of ethanolic
extracts of three Bangladesh medicinal plants, Diospyros blancoi leaves significantly inhibited the mean
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number of defecation, increased the latent period and significantly decreased the number of stools. (12)
Methanol extract of leaves showed significant (p<0.001) dose-dependent antioxidant activity using DPPH
assay. In a castor oil-induced diarrhea model in mice, the extract exhibited significant reduction in faecal
output compared to standard loperamide. (22)
• Antitumor Activity / Apoptosis Induction: Study investigated various extracts of aerial parts of Salvia
plebeia for antitumor activity and apoptosis induction. The dichloromethane extract may inhibit cancer
cell proliferation by inducing cell apoptosis. (11)
• Vasorelaxant / Leaves: Study evaluated various extracts for vasorelaxant activity and total phenolic
content. Analysis showed all the extracts and fractions contain polyphenols expressed as gallic acid
equivalent. The ethyl acetate fraction of leaf extract exhibited 52% relaxation of isolated rat aortic rings,
while the methanol extract produced almost 100% relaxation at the same concentration. Results suggest
the extract possess endothelium-dependent and NO-mediated vasorelaxant effects. (15)
• Antimicrobial / Fruit Juice: Study evaluated the antimicrobial effect of D. discolor juice on bacteria
and fungi (P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and C. albicans). Results showed the juice contains alkaloids,
terpenes, reducing sugars and tannins. The mabolo juice showed concentration dependent antimicrobial
activity attributed to the alkaloids and tannins. (16)
• Comparative Antioxidants Activity of Different Plant Parts: Study evaluated the antioxidant activity
of methanol extracts from different parts of the plant including leaf, fruit and bark. The bark showed the
highest antioxidant activity, followed by the fruit and leaf. (17)
• Aroma Compounds / Nutrient Contents / Peel and Fruit: Study of intact fruit and peel yielded 24
compounds while the pulp yielded 28 compounds. The most important aroma compounds were esters
and α-farnesese. (see constituents above) (21)
• Analgesic / Seeds: In a study of four medicinal plants for analgesic activity, methanol extract of D.
blancoi seeds showed moderate analgesic activity using acetic acid-induced writhing and tail immersion
tests. (22)
• Cholinesterase Inhibitory Potential for Alzheimer's Disease / Antioxidant / Leaf and Bark:
Oxidative stress and decreased neurotransmitter (especially acetylcholine) are main characteristics of
Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease. The CME extracts of both bark and leaf
exhibited cholinesterase inhibitory activities and thrombolytic activities that suggested potential in the
treatment of AD and clotting disorders. (25)
• Anticancer / Free Radical Scavenging / Stem Bark: Study evaluated the effects of various extracts of
leaves, root bark, and stem bark of Diospyros blancoi on free radicals and cancer. Extracts of stem bark
showed the highest total antioxidant capacity and reducing capacity on ferrous ion, with significant
(p<0.05) radical scavenging activity than standards. The stem bark also showed moderate cytotoxicity
using brine shrimp nauplii and moderate anticancer activity testing using Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells.
The anticancer activity was attributed, in part, to its phenolic contents and significant free radical
scavenging properties. (26)

Availability
Cultivated.
Wild-crafted.

© Godofredo U. Stuart Jr., M.D.

Updated July 2017 / June 2016

Photo © Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange

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OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Graphic / File:Diospyros blancoi Blanco1.109-cropped.jpg / Plate from book / Flora de Filipinas /
Francisco Manuel Blanco (OSA) / Public Domain / Modifications by Carol Spears / Wikimedia Commons
SOURCES

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings

(1)
Antioxidant and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)-induced effects of selected Taiwanese plants / Mei-Hsien Lee,
Cheun-Bin Jiang, Shu-Hui Juan, Rong-Dih Lin, Wen-Chi Hou / Fitoterapia, 2006, 77(2), 109-115 / DOI
10.1016/j.fitote.2005.11.012
(2)
Bioactive triterpenes from Diospyros blancoi / C Ragasa et al / Natural Product Research, Volume 23,
Issue 13 September 2009 , pages 1252 - 1258 / DOI: 10.1080/14786410902951054
(3)
Volatile Components of Mabolo (Diospyros blancoi A. DC.) Grown in Cuba / George Pino et al / JEOR -
Journal of Essential Oil Research, Vol 20, Issue 6 (2008)
(4)
Diospyros blancoi / Common names / ZipcodeZoo
(5)
Characterization of Chemical Groups and Study of Antioxidant, Antidiarrhoeal, Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic
activities of ethanolic extract of Diospyros blancoi (Family: Ebenaceae) Leaves / Md. Sariful Islam
Howlader, Muhammad Shahdaat Bin Sayeed, Maizbha Uddin Ahmed, Abdul Kader Mohiuddin, Zubair
Khalid Labu, Sm Faysal Bellah, Mohammad Safiqul / Journal of Pharmacy Research, Vol 5, No 6 (2012)
(6)
Diospyros blancoi attenuates asthmatic effects in a mouse model of airway inflammation. / Lee KY, Jung
JY, Lee MY, Jung D, Cho ES, Son HY. / Inflammation. 2012 Apr;35(2):623-32.
(7)
Air Pollution-Fighting Potential of Ethanolic Extract of Diospyros Blancoi as Alcohol Fuel for Gasoline-
Engined Automobiles / Source: Jose Marie G. Agustin / Department of Science and Technology.
(8)
Evaluation of Antidiarrhoeal Potential of the Ethanolic Extract of Three Bangladeshi Medicinal Plants /
Hemayet Hossain, Shubhra Kanti Dey, Arpona Hira, Md. Sariful Islam Howlader, Arif Ahmed, Saima
Sultana /Int.J.Pharm.Phytopharmacol.Res. 2012, 1(6): 371-374
(9)
Antioxidant and Antidiarrheal Potential of Diospyros blancoi / Sariful Islam Howlader, Mofizur Rahman,
Abdul Bashar Ripon Khalipha, Mostafizur Rahman and Firoj Ahmed / Int Jour of Pharmacology 8(5):403-
409, 2012
(10)
SOME PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS OF SALVIA PLEBEIA R. BR. / Rupali Shirsat, Subhash Suradkar and
Deepak Koche / Bioscience Discovery, 3(1):61-63, Jan. 2012
(11)
Antitumor Activity of Dichloromethane Extract from Salvia plebeia and Induction of Apoptosis on K562
Cells
REN Jie, PAN Sha-sha, LU Xu-zhang, ZHOU Min, HU Kun* /
(12)
Evaluation of Antidiarrhoeal Potential of the Ethanolic Extract of Three Bangladeshi Medicinal Plants /
Hemayet Hossain*, Shubhra Kanti Dey, Arpona Hira, Md. Sariful Islam Howlader, Arif Ahmed, Saima
Sultana / International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Phytopharmacological Research, 2012, 1(6): 371-
374
(13)
Diospyros discolor Willd. / Synonyms / The Plant List
(14)
Enhancing the Use of Value-Added Products from Underutilized Fruit of the Endangered Mabolo
(Diospyros blancoi) Tree / REGUCIVILLA A. POBAR* / IJERD – International Journal of Environmental
and Rural Development (2013) 4-1
(15)
In vitro screening of the vasorelaxant activity of Diospyros discolor Willd. (ebenaceae) leaf extracts / RKG
Cadiang, MO Osi, JG Apostol, MC Ysrael / Planta Med 2012; 78 - PL31 / DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1325173
(16)
Antimicrobial activity of the mature fruit of Diospyros discolor willd. (Mabolo) / Mary Grace M. Manila and
Madeleine Clare V. Tajanlangit / Thesis/Dissertations / March 2011
(17)
In Vitro Antioxidant Activity Of Different Parts Of The Plant Diospyros Discolor / Shapna Sultana and Md.
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11/22/2017 Mabolo / Diospyros blancoi:/ Diospyros discolor/ Velvet apple Philippine Alternative Medicine / Herbal Therapy / StuartXchange

Saiful Islam, Israt Jahan Bulbul, Kaiser Hamid, Sreedam Chandra Das / Research Journal of Agriculture
and Biological Sciences, 2010
(18)
Lanostane-type triterpenoids from Diospyros discolor. / Chiy-Rong Chen, Chao-Wen Cheng, Min-Hsiung
Pan, Yun-Wen Liao, Chih-Ying Tzeng, Chi-I Chang / Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2007 Jun;55(6):908-11
(19)
Mabolo / Nutritional analysis / The Earth of India
(20)
Diospyros discolor / Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana / Botany.SI.edu
(21)
Analysis of aroma compounds and nutrient contents of mabolo (Diospyros blancoi A. DC.), an
ethnobotanical fruit of Austronesian Taiwan / Sheng-Feng Hung, Su-Feng Roan, Tsu-Liang Chang, Hen-
Bia King, Iou-Zen Chen / Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, Vol 24, Issue 1, Jan 2016, Pp 83–89
(22)
Analgesic activities of Geodorum densiflorum, Diospyros blancoi, Baccaurea ramiflora and Trichosanthes
dioica / Saleha Akter, Tomal Majumder, Rezaul Karim, Zannatul Ferdous, Mohasin Sikder / Journal of
Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2015; 4(3): 209-214
(23)
Antioxidant and Antidiarrhoeal Potentiality of Diospyros blancoi / Md. Sariful Islam Howlader, Md Mofizur
Rahman, Abdul Basher Ripon Khai, Firoj Ahmed / International Journal of Pharmacology / DOI:
10.3923/ijp.2012.403.409
(24)
A Survey of Medicinal Plants used by Folk Medicinal Practitioners in Balidha village of Jessore District,
Bangladesh / Mohammed Rahmatullah, Md. Majedul Hasan / American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable
Agriculture, 4(2): 111-116, 2010
(25)
Cholinesterase Inhibitory Potential and Anti-oxidant Activities of Leaf and Bark Extract of Diospyros
blancoi Relevant for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease / Taposhi Sultana Mou / Thesis: Bachelor of
Pharmacy / East West University
(26)
Comparative investigation of the free radical scavenging potential and anticancer property of Diospyros
blancoi (Ebenaceae) / Muhammad Ali Khan, Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Md. Nazmul Sardar, Md. Saiful
Islam Arman, Md. Badrul Islam, Md. Jahangir Alam Khandakar, Mamunur Rashid, Golam Sadik, AHM
Khurshid Alam / Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, Vol 6, Issue 5, May 2016 /
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2016.03.004

It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the
DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page.
Potential Herbal Medicines and Drug Interactions

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