Goron Tula Fruit (Snot Apple): Medicinal Benefits, Other Uses

Azanza garckeana, popularly called Goron Tula fruit (kola of Tula), or Snot Apple, is available in abundance in the Tula village of Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State. It is a deciduous shrub and a valuable edible fruit tree belonging to the family, Malvaceae. It is called the miracle fruit because of the various medicinal benefits.

The goron tula fruit has a fleshy gumming pulp, and five seeds. The flesh is a wonderful source of protein, mineral, fibre, and vitamin. It has both nutritional and medicinal value, just like bitter kola.

Common names of the Goron Tula fruit include Morojwa in Botswana, Goron Tula in Hausa, tree hibiscus or snot apple in English. Other names are Thespesia or Silky Kola, “African chewing gum” because of the gummy nature.

Goron tula has been used in traditional medicine to treat infertility, sexually transmitted infections, chest pain, menstrual disorders, hepatic disease, among others.

Composition of the Goron Tula Fruit

There are many phytochemical present in the goron tula fruit, with carotenoids having the highest composition. Others include tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, cyanogenic glucosides and xanthone in both pulp and seed of the fruit.

There are mineral components such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, and iron, and vitamins such as C.

Phytochemical Composition of Goron Tula

Phytochemical	Quantity (%)
Tannins	0.22%
Saponins	1.72%
Alkaloids	3.7%
Phenols	1.0%
Flavonoids	2.60%
Carotenoids	0.33ug/g
Cyanogenicglucosides	3.40%

Mineral Composition of Goron Tula

Phytochemical	Quantity
Fats	0.543 %
Total carbohydrates	49 %
Starch	7.5 %
Vitamin C	28.5 mg/100 g
Iron	28.49 mg/kg
Magnesium	205.27 mg/kg
Calcium	386.83 mg/kg
Zinc	19.92 mg/kg
Potassium	774.17 mg/kg
Sodium	9.70 mg/kg
Phosphorus	161.62 mg/kg

Goron Tula Uses (Health Benefits)

Antioxidant action: Azanza garckeana contain flavonoids and phenolic compounds. These compounds scavenge single oxygen, and act as reducing agents.

Anti-cancer activity: Carotenoids, phenols, and flavonoids in goron tula fruit are powerful antioxidants, which mops up free radicals that cause oxidative damage in the body and increase the risk of cancer, cardiovascular diseases.

Anti-inflammatory property: The presence of flavonoids, triterpenoid and saponins inhibits synthesis and release of inflammatory mediators, prostaglandins, and polypeptide kinins. This result in the anti-inflammatory action exhibited by the fruit.

Anti-diabetic effect: some phytochemical, such as flavonoids, glycosides, and terpenes present in the fruit, are good for sugar level control in the body. Hence, they are good for diabetic patients.

Wound healing: In studies with lab rats, the extract of goron tula increased wound contraction and exposure, but lesser than the standard drug, tetracycline.

Fertility: Goron tula fruits are consumed for their fertility enhancing activity. It increases female lubrication and also improves the body’s immune functions. The fruit also helps to correct menstruation problems.

Anti-microbial property: Goron tula has a high level of phenolic compounds such as alkaloids and saponins. These compounds have an antimicrobial action against microbes such as Klebsiella
pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, helping to prevent microbial infection and sexually transmitted diseases.

The extract has a higher activity against Klebsiella pneumonia, while the lowest activity was against Bacillus subtilis.

The root extract of A. garckeana also exhibited antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, Enterococcus faecalis.

Aphrodisiac: Goron tula is a good aphrodisiac for men and women who are suffering from low sexual drive.

Immune boosting: Flavonoids in the fruit help us fight allergen, virus and cyanogen.

Goron tula also possesses minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and sodium in some quantities.

Goron tula for Men

Because Goron tula seed has low anti-nutrients, such as oxalate, phytate and tannins, it can serve as a fertility booster.

The amount of magnesium and calcium affect sperm concentration in the body. Goron tula has both minerals, it will help to improve sexual function in men.

Some studies suggest that consumption of compounds such as goron tula with a good quantity of antioxidants can improve sperm motility and concentration, and reduce DNA damage.

In some areas, men take a mixture of goron tula fruit with pineapple and lemon to treat premature ejaculation. Goron tula can also be mixed with honey.

Goron Tula for Fertility

The goron tula fruit is a good tightening agent for the private organ and as an aphrodisiac. It is used to increase vaginal wetness, making it slippery to enhance love making, eliminating dryness.

Magnesium content of the goron tula fruit also helps in fertility. Magnesium handles up to 700 to 800 enzyme system in the body. It also helps the body to relieve stress and improve sleep since trying to conceive causes a lot of stress, and sleep deprivation in some women. Magnesium can improve relaxation and also reduce insulin spikes. Insulin spikes cause wakefulness.

Magnesium controls the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) binding to the receptors in the ovary. Since FSH stimulates the ovaries, a low level of magnesium may cause low progesterone levels. Low progesterone levels can cause short luteal phase, and risk of miscarriage.

The antimicrobial content of the fruit can also help the female body to wade off microorganisms and increase the normal flora in the vagina.

Gorontula Syrup

An organic and natural syrup can be made from goron tula. Other ingredients such as cloves, dates fruit can be added to the syrup. The formulation comes in different strengths and dosage forms such as 100 ml, 150 ml, 250 ml.

The date syrups have been used to treat infertility, body cleansing, immune boosting, improve bowel movement, and managing blood pressure. It is also an aphrodisiac.

How to Make the Gorontula Syrup

• Make sure the goron tula fruits are clean and dry
• Put them inside a bowl and add cold water. Use the water to clean it by pressing the dirties off the fruits.
• Pour off the water and rinse the fruit again with clean water.
• Boil water and add the goron tula, allow soaking for up to 20 minutes. Drain off the water.
• Use your hands and open up the fruit.
• Add water to the opened fruits and boil with low heat for one hour. You will notice the water turns to a syrup.
• Add brown sugar (one tablespoon) or honey, and mix.
• Use a sieve to collect the syrup from the content.
• Leave the syrup to cool and package in a bottle. You can preserve by refrigeration.

Dosage of gorontula syrup: You can take two tablespoons of the gorontula syrup in the morning and evening.

Side effects of Goron tula fruit

Though there are many health benefits associated with the goron tula fruits, there are also some unwanted side effects such as microbial contamination, adulteration. The high level of polyphenols can also cause issues such as kidney issues, cancer risks.

High level of tannins can cause gastric irritation, nausea, and vomiting. The crushing of the fruit can cause the hydrolysis of cyanogenic glycosides. The end product is cyanides, which, when consumed, can cause growth retardation and other neurological disorders.

Drug interaction can result from consuming the fruit alongside some medications.

How to Use the Goron tula fruit

• Wash the fruit properly with clean water to remove unwanted particles and microbes on the body.
• Remove the shell to extract the pulp.
• You can either chew the pulp to get the slimy fluid inside or press it.
• If the fruit is dry, you can use warm water to soak it for some minutes to extract the fluid.

References:

• https://clinphytoscience.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40816-020-00173-0