Plant atlas Short

Jackfruit Fiber Fed Gut Bacteria in Lab Tests

Jackfruit · ขนุน · Artocarpus heterophyllus

Jackfruit — ขนุน (kha-nun) — Artocarpus heterophyllus.

In lab and animal studies, this sweet, meaty fruit's pulp polysaccharides fed gut bacteria, and raised short-chain fatty acids. The edible part is the fruit pods. Jackfruit carries a plain nutrition stack. Its vitamin C helps the body build collagen and acts as an antioxidant. Its vitamin B6 supports energy metabolism, nerve function, and red-blood-cell formation. Its potassium contributes to fluid balance, muscle function, and nerve signaling. Its fiber slows digestion and can make a meal feel more filling; broader dietary-fiber research links fiber with steadier blood sugar after meals. Jackfruit-specific trials are still needed.

Kaeng Khanun simmers young green jackfruit with pork ribs and tomatoes into a northern Thai curry, scooped up with sticky rice. Khao Niao Khanun stuffs ripe jackfruit pods with sweet coconut sticky rice, drizzled with salted coconut cream and toasted sesame. To eat jackfruit, take the sweet ripe pods; the seeds are edible once boiled or roasted, and unripe green fruit cooks as a meat-like vegetable. The massive fruits grow straight from the trunk.

If you have a latex or birch-pollen allergy, jackfruit can cross-react and has triggered serious reactions.

For a new Thai plant every day, follow Longevity Biome.

Gaeng Kanoon — แกงขนุน (gaeng-ka-noon)
Khao Niao Khanun — ข้าวเหนียวขนุน (khao-niao-ka-noon)

Source: Zhu KX et al. (2021). Polysaccharide from Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (jackfruit) pulp modulates gut microbiota composition and improves short-chain fatty acids production. Food Chem 364:130434. DOI:10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130434 (PMID 34182368)

Educational content, not medical advice! Consult your doctor before changing diet or medication.

#LongevityBiome #ThaiHerbs #Jackfruit

Food and nutrients

Rich in: vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, fiber

Research context

Jackfruit fiber fed beneficial gut bacteria and boosted short-chain fatty acids in lab/animal studies — Food Chemistry, 2021

Safety note. If you have a latex or birch-pollen allergy, be cautious — jackfruit has triggered documented anaphylaxis.

Related playlists

Watch on YouTube