Chrysophyllum cainito L.

Kenitu (Chrysophyllum cainito) is a tree up to 30 meters tall of the Sapotaceae family, originating from the lowlands of Central America and the West Indies, now widely planted in the Philippines and Thailand as an ornamental and shade tree. Its glossy green or purple fruit is commonly eaten fresh, while the Cuban community in Miami uses its leaves as part of traditional cancer treatment. Kenitu is also believed to help relieve rheumatism and lower cholesterol levels.

Kenitu grows well in almost all soil types and across a wide climate range. In Southeast Asia this plant grows well in lowlands up to elevations of 400 m above sea level.

• Stem cylindrical, woody, rough surface brown, dark gray to white in color and releases a lot of latex (thick white sap) when injured.
• Leaves single, golden brown in color due to fine hairs growing mainly on the underside of the leaf and on the twigs.
• Flowers located at leaf axils, clustered in groups of 5-35 small, long-stalked flowers, yellowish to purplish-white, sweetly fragrant.
• Fruit round-egg shaped, 5-10 cm diameter, smooth glossy skin, purplish-red to dark purple or pale green, somewhat thick skin. Fruit flesh white, soft, sweet, containing up to 10 seeds.
• Seeds flat, hard and glossy, light brown to blackish-purple in color.

Propagated by seed, air-layering, grafting, and budding.

Flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, triterpenes, sterols, polyphenols, β-sitosterol, lupeol, gallic acid, steroids, cardiac glycoside, ursolic acid.

Treats rheumatism, chest pain, diabetes, cough, tonic, relieves laryngitis and pneumonia, allergy prevention, cholesterol reducer, has antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial activity.

• Collect fresh, non-rotten leaves.
• Wash thoroughly with running water.
• Dry in the sun under shade for several days until completely dry. Grind into a homogeneous powder.
• Store in a clean, airtight container.

Sawo ijo or Apel ijo (Java), Sawo kadu (Banten), Sawo hejo (Sunda), Kenitu (East Java), Sawo manila (Lampung).