Carambola
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| Averrhoa carambola | |
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| Carambola fruits | |
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| Species: | A. carambola
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| Binomial name | |
| Averrhoa carambola | |
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|- |} The carambola is a species of tree native to Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka and is popular throughout Southeast Asia, Trinidad, Malaysia and parts of East Asia. It is also grown throughout the tropics. Carambola is commercially grown in the United States in south Florida and Hawaii for its fruit, known as the starfruit. It is closely related to the bilimbi.
Health risks
Individuals with kidney trouble should avoid consuming the fruit, because of the presence of oxalic acid. Juice made from carambola can be even more dangerous owing to its concentration of the acid. It can cause hiccups, vomiting, nausea, and mental confusion. Fatal outcomes after ingestion of star fruits have been described in uraemic patients.[1] [2]
Drug interactions
Like grapefruit, star fruit is considered to be a potent inhibitor of seven cytochrome P450 isoforms.[3][4] These enzymes are significant in the first pass elimination of many medicines, and thus the consumption of star fruit or its juice in combination with certain medications can significantly increase their effective dosage within the body. Research into grapefruit juice has identified a number of common medications affected, including statins which are commonly used to treat cardiovascular illness, benzodiazepines (a tranquilizer family including diazepam) as well as other medicines.[5] These interactions can be fatal if an unfortunate confluence of genetic, pharmacological, and lifestyle factors results in, for instance, heart failure, as could occur from the co-ingestion of star fruit or star fruit juice with atorvastatin (Lipitor).
History
The star fruit originally came from Sri Lanka and the Moluccas. For the past several hundred years, it has been cultivated in Malaysia.[6]
In Popular Culture
The Paopu Fruit in Kingdom Hearts is based on the Carambola. Sales of Carambola rose following the release of the game.
Gallery
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Leaves- both sides in India. -
Fruits, leaves & Trunk -
Full grown fruit
References
- ^ Chang JM et al., Am J Kidney Dis 2000;35:189.
- ^ Kidney patients should avoid star fruit
- ^ Abstracts: Metabolism and metabolic enzymes studies for the 8th National Congress on Drug and Xenobiotic Metabolism in China
- ^ Potential Drug-Food Interactions with Pomegranate Juice
- ^ P450 Table
- ^ Star Fruit, Carambola - star fruit facts - Food Reference
External links
