It is a significant source of vitamin C in the natural form of ascorbic acid, containing as much as 1000 to 4500 milligrams per 100 grams of edible fruit.
These 10 facts about space will blow your mind. Acerola is a plant native to Southern and Central America. It produces small edible fruits which strongly resemble cherries, leading to the common alternate names of Barbados Cherry, Puerto Rican Cherry, and West Indies Cherry. The fruits are widely consumed in South America in fresh and preserved forms.  ACEROLA Overview Information. Acerola is a fruit. It is rich in vitamin C, and also contains vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. People use it for medicine. Acerola is used to treat or prevent scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency. Acerola is also used for preventing heart disease, “hardening of the arteries ” (atherosclerosis), blood clots, and cancer. Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. Acerola contains vitamin C. Large amounts of vitamin C might decrease the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin). Decreasing the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin) might increase the risk of clotting. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The extract of the acerola fruit is believed to have many health benefits. Rain Tree Health states that the acerola plant is classified as a small tree or shrub that produces bright red fruit. These fruits are succulent and slightly sour. The use of acerola as a natural herbal remedy is a common practice in its native areas of Brazil. History as a Supplement. Acerola extract is often used in North America because of its high vitamin C content. Until the discovery of the camu-camu plant, the richest known natural source of vitamin C was the extract of the acerola fruit. Write a Review. Acerola powder is derived from the acerola cherry, one of nature's highest sources of vitamin C. Originally from Central America, the Acerola fruit change their color during ripening from green to yellow, to dark red.  A close up of acerola cherries Photo Credit monica-photo/iStock/Getty Images. Acerola cherries provide more vitamin C than all other food sources, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Acerola juice is such a rich source that MedlinePlus warns against drinking the juice if you also take vitamin C supplements.  Origin: The acerola is believed to originate from the Yucatan (linguistic evidence) and is distributed from South Texas, through Mexico (especially on the West Coast from Sonora to Guerrero) and Central America to northern South America (Venezuela, Surinam, Columbia) and throughout the Caribbean (Bahamas to Trinidad). Pests and Disease: The Acerola is susceptible to root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) which causes serious problems with young trees and slower losses of productivity in older trees. It is also attacked by a variety of common insects, such as aphids, whitefly and scale. Malpighia emarginata is a tropical fruit-bearing shrub or small tree in the family Malpighiaceae. Common names include acerola (. [ɐse̞ˈɾɔ̞lɐ]), Barbados cherry, West Indian cherry and wild crepe myrtle. Acerola is native to South America, southern Mexico, and Central America, but is now also being grown as far north as Texas and in subtropical areas of Asia, such as India. After three years, trees produce significant numbers of bright red drupes 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) in diameter with a mass of 3–5 g (0.11–0.18 oz). Drupes are in pairs or groups of three, and each contains three triangular seeds. The drupes are juicy and very high in vitamin C (3-46 g/kg) and other nutrients. Acerola (Malpighia emarginata) is a significant source of vitamin C in the natural form of ascorbic acid, containing as much as 1000 to 4500 milligrams per 100 grams of edible fruit. Vitamin C is an essential dietary nutrient, playing a role in immune system health. However, acerola interacts with blood thinners and hormone medications. Acerola might also cause side effects of nausea, cramps, and diarrhea, particularly because of the high vitamin C content which is known to cause diarrhea when taken in high doses.
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what is acerola