Manilkara zapota

INTRODUCTION TO THE FAMILY

 Sapodilla, also called naseberry (Manilkara zapota) is

native to Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Belize, and
possibly El Salvador. The Sapotaceae were named after a
synonym of this species.
 Yellow sapote (Pouteria campechiana) is native to Mexico
and Central America.
 Mamey sapote (Pouteria sapota) is from southern Mexico
to northern South America.
 Green sapote (Pouteria viridis) is native to lowland
southern Mexico.

BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICKS AND SIGNIFICENCE

TAXONOMICAL CLASSIFICATION

 Kingdom: Plantae
 Clade : Tracheophytes
 Clade : Angiosperms
 Clade : Eudicots
 Clade : Asterids
 Order : Ericales
 Family: Sapotaceae
 Genus: Manilkara
 Species: M. Zapota
 synonyms
 Achradelpha mammosa
 Achras breviloba
 Achras calderonii
 Achras conzattii
 Achras coriacea
 Achras dactylina.
 Achras gaumeri

VERNACULAR NAMES
Tamil : seemaiilluppai
Telugu : Sapota
Gujarati : chikoo
Oriya : safeta
Hindi : chiku
Malayalam : supporta
Kannada : sapota
Marathi : chikku
English : Sapodilla plum
Bengali : sopeta
Urdu : cheeku
Punjabi : ciku
http://www.whatiscalled.com/fruit-names/sapodilla_in_all_languages/
Natural Habitat
Growing sapodillas are thought to have originated in the Yucatan peninsula
and nearby southern regions of Mexico, Belize and into northeastern
Guatemala. It was then introduced and since cultivated throughout the tropical
Americas, West Indies and the southern part of Florida.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/sapodilla-trees/growing-sapodilla-fruit.htm

Cultivation
Growing sapodillas are not strictly tropical and adult sapodilla fruit trees can
survive temperatures of 26-28 F. (-2 to -3 C.), for a short period of time.
Sapling trees are more likely to sustain major damage or even die at 30 F. (-1
C.). Growing sapodillas are not particular when it comes to water
requirements.
They may do equally well in arid or humid environments, although more
severe conditions may result in lack of fruiting. Despite its temperature
tolerance, if you want to grow a sapodilla tree in a less than semi-tropical area,
it would be prudent to either grow it in a greenhouse or as a container plant
that can be moved to a protected area in case of inclement weather. If such
weather occurs, the tree may also be covered with sheeting to aid in
protection. This evergreen fruit bearer hails from the family of Sapotaceae in
the genus of Manilkara with a calorie rich, easy-to-digest fruit.
The sapodilla fruit is sand colored with a skin similar to a kiwi but without the
fuzz. The interior pulp is of young sapodilla fruit is white with a heavy
concentration of sticky latex, called saponin. The saponin abates as the fruit
ripens and the flesh subsequently turns brown. The inside of the fruit contains
three to 10 inedible seeds at the center.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/sapodilla-trees/growing-sapodilla-fruit.htm
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
Sapodilla can grow to more than 30 m (98 ft) tall with an average trunk diameter of 1.5 m
(4.9 ft). The average height of cultivated specimens, however, is usually between 9 and
15 m (30 and 49 ft) with a trunk diameter not exceeding 50 cm (20 in). It is wind-resistant
and the bark is rich in a white, gummy latex called chicle. The ornamental leaves are
medium green and glossy. They are alternate, elliptic to ovate, 7–15 cm (2.8–5.9 in) long,
with an entire margin. The white flowers are inconspicuous and bell-like, with a six-lobed
corolla. An unripe fruit has a firm outer skin and when picked, releases white chicle from its
stem. A fully ripened fruit has saggy skin and does not release chicle when picked.
The fruit is a large berry, 4–8 cm (1.6–3.1 in) in diameter. Inside, its flesh ranges from a pale
yellow to an earthy brown color with a grainy texture akin to that of a well-ripened pear. Each
fruit contains one to six seeds. The seeds are hard, glossy, and black, resembling beans,
with a hook at one end that can catch in the throat if swallowed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manilkara_zapota

PHARMACOGNISTICAL FEATURES
The pharmacognostical study is the major and reliable
criteria for identification of plant drugs. The pharmacognostic
parameters are necessary for confirmation of the identity
and determination of quality and purity of the crude drug.
The detailed and systematic pharmacognostical evaluation
would give valuable information for the future studies. The
plant Manilkara zapota L. showed general characteristics of
a dicot plant.
Macroscopically the leaf was green in colour. Apex and
base were acute, margin was entire leathery, shape was
oblong and petioles were 4.5 cm long . The
microscopy study revealed the presence of lower and upper
epidermis, xylem, phloem, vascular bundles, mesophyll,
trichome and collenchyma. Mesophyll was differentiated
into palisade and spongy parenchyma. Palisade was formed
from compactly arranged elongated, narrow columnar cells
with beaded anticlinal walls. Palisade cells were filled with
chlorophyll. Spongy parenchyma was made up of
parenchymatous cells with varying size and shape. Vascular
bundles were arc shaped. Xylem was lignifed and phloem
was non-lignifed. Unicellular trichome was observed on
the epidermis
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257435757_Phar
macognostic_studies_on_the_leaves_of_Manilkara_zapota_L
_Sapotaceae

MICROSCOPICAL CHARACTERS
Microscopy study of powder showed the presence of upper
epidermis cells which were thick and irregular walled, prisms
of calcium oxalate crystals, simple unicellular trichome,
simple pitted vessels, actinocytic stomata and xylem vessels
in longitudinal sectional view showed spiral thickening
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257435757_Phar
macognostic_studies_on_the_leaves_of_Manilkara_zapota_L
_Sapotaceae
THERAPEUTIC USES
Its parts are used in alternative medicine to treat coughs and
colds and possess diuretic, antidiarrheal, antibiotic,
antihyperglycemic, and hypocholesterolemic effects. There
are no studies on metabolic profile after using the fruit, and
this study aimed at evaluating the effects of the leaf and pulp
of M. zapota fruit on the metabolic profile of Wistar rats.
Male rats were treated for 50 days with M. zapota leaf juice
or fruit juice, after which their biochemical and body
composition profiles were analyzed (glycemia, triglycerides,
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), insulin, leptin,
aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, Lee Index,
and body mass index). Our results indicate significantly lower
levels of glycemia, insulin, leptin, cholesterol, and
triglycerides and augmented levels of HDL-c in animals
treated with the leaves or fruit of this plant. The percentage
of weight gain also declined in animals treated with M.
zapota fruit pulp. The use of the M. zapota may be helpful in
the prevention of obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and their
complications.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25184814
TRADITIONAL USES
Sapodilla is grown mainly for its fruit which is predominantly
eaten fresh. The fruits may also be used in sherbets or ice
cream or made into preserve, butter or jam. The juice may be
boiled into syrup or fermented into wine or vinegar. Wild and
cultivated trees in America are tapped for their milky latex
which coagulates into chicle, the principal constituent of
chewing gum before the advent of synthetics. This gum is
also used in the manufacture of transmission belts, in dental
surgery, and as a substitute for gutta percha, a coagulum of
the latex of Palaquium spp. , also in the Sapotaceae , which
had many applications in industry before the advent of
plastics.
The wood is an excellent material for making cabinets and
furniture. The seeds are antipyretic. In Indonesia the flowers
are used as one of the ingredients in preparing a powder
which is rubbed on the body of a woman after childbirth. The
tannin from the bark is used to tan ship sails and fishing
tackle; in Cambodia the tannin is used to cure diarrhoea and
fever.
https://uses.plantnet-
project.org/en/Manilkara_zapota_(PROSEA)

PAST PHARMALOGICAL WORK DONE

Antidiabetic
antilipidemic
Antioxidant activity

OTHER SPICIES OF GENUS

Amorphospermum
Aningeria
Argania
Aubregrinia
Aulandra
Autranella
Baillonella
Boerlagella Cogn. (sometimes included in Pouteria)
Breviea
Burckella
Capurodendron
Chromolucuma
Chrysophyllum
Delpydora
Diploknema
Diploon
Donella
Eberhardtia
Ecclinusa
Elaeoluma
Englerophytum
Faucherea
Gluema
Inhambanella
Isonandra
Labourdonnaisia
Labramia
Lecomtedoxa
Letestua
Madhuca
Manilkara
Mastichodendron
Micropholis
Mimusops
Neohemsleya
Neolemonniera
Nesoluma
Niemeyera
Northia
Omphalocarpum
Palaquium
Payena
Pichonia
Planchonella Pierre
Pleioluma
Pouteria
Pradosia
Pycnandra
Sarcaulus
Sarcosperma
Sersalisia R.Br. (sometimes included in Pouteria)
Sideroxylon
Synsepalum
Tieghemella
Tridesmostemon
Tsebona
Van-royena Aubrév. (sometimes included in Pouteria)
Vitellaria
Vitellariopsis
Xantolis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapotaceae