Big things come in small packages. This was what the Cagayan State University (CSU) has found out after having uncovered in its laboratory that a small fruit endemic to the Philippines and other southeast Asian countries lived up to its long-held folk promise.
The tiny ruby-red cherries known scientifically as Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng (Bignay) underwent extensive laboratory studies in Natural Product Research & Innovation Center (NPRIC)-CSU for months that led to coming out with a clean breast of reports confirming the numerous anecdotal health and folkloric claims by the local Filipinos where it is grown.
Using an animal model of respiratory diseases, Bignay has proven to be a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and effective against lung disorders like airway inflammation, asthma, allergy, and cough/colds. Bignay extract was also tested to be potent against chemically-induced rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and joint pains in rat and LPS- induced acute lung injury in mice in vivo.
It has an anti-oxidant property, anti-inflammatory activity, a cholesterol buster, and immune system booster.
Balik Scientist Prof. Maria Nilda M. Muñoz, Inventor and Principal Investigator of the Bignay project, said that “the local scientific community that has put bioavailability-based studies as among its priorities gave the Bignay study result a one big leap.”
Bignay is grown in Cagayan Valley and until the study, was just among the popular plant-based medicines employed by herbal doctors to their patients.
The long tradition of testimonials can now be said to possess with a seal of scientific and medicine merits after the conclusion of the CSU study and placing the fruit as a good source of beneficial human health supplement.
This Bignay study was supported by CSU President Urdujah Gaerlan Alvarado, and Department of Science and Technology Regional Director Sancho A. Mabborang.