A Maprang Seed Compound Slowed Bacteria in the Lab

Marian Plum / Maprang — มะปราง (ma-prang) — Bouea macrophylla.

Maprang — mah-prang. It looks like a tiny mango, and you eat the sweet-tart fruit. Scientists tested the single large seed in its center: in cell-culture studies, an extract from it showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The fruit itself is a good source of vitamin C, which your body uses to build collagen in skin, to support normal immune function, and as an antioxidant that helps protect cells. In the kitchen, Maprang Loy Kaew steeps peeled, carved plums in cold jasmine syrup over crushed ice, while Yum Maprang Sook turns ripe maprang into a savory shrimp-paste salad with shrimp and minced pork, served over jasmine rice. At Thai markets, the sweeter ma-yong-chid type sells for more than the plain sour ma-prang.

Maprang Loy Kaew — มะปรางลอยแก้ว (ma-prang-loy-kaew)
Yum Maprang Sook — ยำมะปรางสุก (yam-ma-prang-suk)

Food and nutrients

Rich in: vitamin C

Research context

Maprang seed extract showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in lab studies — Heliyon, 2019 (in-vitro)

Sources

Source: Dechsupa N et al. (2019). Maprang (Bouea macrophylla) seeds: antioxidation/anticancer/antimicrobial. Heliyon. PMID 31338468. Also Molecules (2020), PMID 32344601

Narration transcript

Opening

Maprang — มะปราง, ma-prang. It looks like a mango shrunk to the size of a plum, smooth golden skin and all — no surprise, since it's a close cousin of the mango. The sweet-tart flesh is what you eat, around one large seed in the center. Eat it fresh, or carve the firm ones for a syrup.

Maprang Loy Kaew (มะปรางลอยแก้ว)

Maprang loy kaew is a hot-season dessert: the plums are peeled, carved around the seed, and steeped in cold jasmine syrup, then served over crushed ice.

Yum Maprang Sook (ยำมะปรางสุก)

Yum maprang sook puts ripe maprang in a spicy shrimp-paste salad with shrimp and minced pork, served over jasmine rice.

Nutrition summary

That mango-like flesh is especially high in vitamin C — close to a full day's worth — with a touch of thiamin.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is used to build collagen and helps protect cells from oxidative stress.

Closing

The sweeter ma-yong-chid selection fetches a premium over the plain sour ma-prang at Thai markets. Grow grafted trees and net the ripening fruit, or the birds will segment you to it. Follow Longevity Biome, and LIKE this video for regular updates.

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