Starfruit Wuluh (Averrhoa bilimbi)

Medicplants-Bilimbi tree reaches 5–10 m in height. Its trunk is short and quickly divides up into ramifications. Bilimbi leaves, 3–6 cm long, are alternate, imparipinnate and cluster at branch extremities. There are around 11 to 37 alternate or subopposite oblong leaflets. The leaves are quite similar to those of the Otaheite gooseberry. The trunk and branches of tree has to be exposed to sunlight for fruits to form (traditional knowledge), which is achieved by removing leaves except from branch end.

Possibly originated in Moluccas, Indonesia, the species is now cultivated and found throughout the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar (Burma) and Malaysia. It is also common in other Southeast Asian countries. In India, where it is usually found in gardens, the bilimbi has gone wild in the warmest regions of the country.

Averrhoa bilimbi

Outside of Asia, the tree is cultivated in Zanzibar. In 1793, the bilimbi was introduced to Jamaica from Timor and after several years, was cultivated throughout Central and South America where it is known as mimbro. Introduced to Queensland at the end of the 19th century, it has been grown commercially in the region since that time.

This is essentially a tropical tree, less resistant to cold than the carambola, growing best in rich and well-drained soil (but also stands limestone and sand). It prefers evenly distributed rainfall throughout the year, but with a 2- to 3-month dry season. Therefore, the species is not found, for example, in the wettest part of Malaysia. In Florida, where it is an occasional curiosity, the tree needs protection from wind and cold.


Nutritional value for 100 g of edible portion

    Moisture 94.2-94.7 g
    Protein 0.61 g
    Ash 0.31-0.40 g
    Fiber 0.6g
    Phosphorus 11.1 mg
    Calcium 3.4 mg
    Iron 1.01 mg
    Thiamine 0.010 mg
    Riboflavin 0.026 mg
    Carotene 0.035 mg
    Ascorbic Acid 15.5 mg
    Niacin 0.302 mg

In the Philippines, the leaves serve as a paste on itches, swelling, rheumatism, mumps or skin eruptions. Elsewhere, they are used for bites of venomous creatures. A leaf infusion is used as an after-birth tonic, while the flower infusion is used for thrush, cold, and cough. Malaysians use fermented or fresh bilimbi leaves to treat venereal diseases. In French Guiana, syrup made from the fruit is used to treat inflammatory conditions. To date there is no scientific evidence to confirm effectiveness for such uses.

In some villages in the Thiruvananthapuram district of India, the fruit of the bilimbi was used in folk medicine to control obesity. This led to further studies on its antihyperlipidemic properties.

The fruit contains high levels of oxalate. Acute renal failure due to tubular necrosis caused by oxalate has been recorded in several people who drank the concentrated juice on continuous days as treatment for hypercholesterolemia.These people were prompted into consuming this concoction by local media which played up studies done in experimental animals.[citation needed]

Starfruit vegetable or starfruit is not the same as star fruit, star fruit vegetable commonly used by mothers to cook.

Every part of the starfruit has efficacy for treating various diseases and beneficial also for beauty.

Some of the benefits of starfruit them to cope with canker sores, prevent hypertension, tackling acne, skin fungus, overcome diabetes, overcoming toothbrush, treat coughs, ease congestion and liquefy phlegm.

To treat acne you can use 3 pieces of fresh starfruit, wash and then given a grate and give a little salt. Paste the grated results in the area of facial acne. Do it twice a day.

For those of you who are suffering from diabetes, you also can try a treatment with starfruit. Prepare 6 pieces starfruit that has been crushed, and then boiled with a glass of water until the water remaining half. After it was filtered, drink 2 times a day.