Botanical name
Ficus carica
Anjeer is a beautiful tree with a shrub-like structure. It usually grows horizontally, and its height is approximately 4.5 to 9 m. Anjeer plant grows very well during mild winters and hot, dry summers. Anjeer is a perfect plant for outdoor gardens, which has significantly less maintenance. Anjeer fruit is very famous in all age groups.
Anjeer is known for its nutritional value and is a powerhouse of various health-benefiting components. The identification of anjeer tree is made by its different featured leaves like a papaya tree, which is around 10 cm in length, and it blooms nearly in May. Anjeer fruit has been reported as an essential source of phenolic compounds, vitamins, minerals, sugars, carbohydrates, and organic acids.
The tree bears a unique bell-shaped fruit which is mostly known as Anjeer. Anjeer fruit is about 1 to 4 inches long, and it is yellowish-green in color, and after ripening, it becomes purple. Anjeer plant is cultivated worldwide during all seasons. Anjeer fruit has sweet, chewy tissue or fiber-like mesocarp with small crunchy seeds.
Sources of Anjeer
Anjeer plant is grown in several countries like Egypt, Turkey, Spain, Morocco, Greece, Italy, California, Brazil, and other places worldwide.
Chemical composition of Anjeer
Anjeers are an excellent source of several polyphenolic compounds like proanthocyanidins, phytosterols, organic acids, anthocyanin, triterpenoids, coumarins, and volatile compounds like hydrocarbons, aliphatic alcohols. These polyphenolic compounds possess several health benefits, and these help fight against different diseases. Anjeer is loaded with polyphenolic compounds and contains minerals like zinc, manganese, magnesium, and iron. The dried form of Anjeer is rich in a high amount of antioxidants and fibers.
Nutritional values of Anjeer
Anjeer is rich in essential nutrients, and the composition of 100 g of fresh Anjeer is given in the below table. Percent Daily Value (DV) means that one serving of fruit or product can provide a nutrient equivalent to our daily needs.
| Component | Content (serving size 100 g) |
| Carbohydrate | 6%DV |
| Protein | 2% DV |
| Fat | 0 % DV |
| Total calories | 74 Kcal |
| Fibre | 12% DV |
| Magnesium | 4% DV |
| Calcium | 3% DV |
| Iron | 2% DV |
| Potassium | 7% DV |
| Total sugars | 33% DV |
| Vitamin B6 | 6% of total body weight |
| Thiamine | 4% of total body weight |
| Vitamin A | 3% of total body weight |
| Vitamin K | 4% of total body weight |
| Vitamin C | 3% of total body weight |
| Manganese | 6% of total body weight |
Other Names for Anjeer
- In Hindi, it is known as Anjeer.
- In Marathi, it is known as Anjeer
- In English, it is known as common Fig
- In Kannada, it is known as Anjura, Seeme atthi
- In Tamil, it is known as Simaiyatti
- In Nepali, it is known as Nebhaaro
Traditional and therapeutic uses of Anjeer
- Traditionally the different parts of anjeer fruit have been used for treating various health issues such as gastrointestinal problems, respiratory problems, metabolic & cardiac vascular Sentral (CVS) disorders.
- The fresh fruits or anjeers are used as a mild laxative, diuretic, and expectorant.
- Anjeer possesses anticancer, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, and hypolipidemic properties.
Medicinal and Health Benefits of Anjeer
- The dried anjeers contain high sugar, but interestingly they possess a low glycemic index. Therefore, they are used as supplementary food in a diabetic patient’s diet.
- Research studies showed that dried anjeers are rich in antioxidants and dietary fibers and are useful for keeping skin healthy.
- When anjeer fruit juice is taken along with honey regularly, their combination is found to be useful in curing bleeding disorders.
- The administration of anjeer paste can help in improving skin health by declining melanin.
- Anjeer paste can be used as a pain reliever. Therefore, it is applied to swellings, inflammation & tumors.
- Anjeer fruit is rich in fiber content, and this can help relieve constipation by promoting bowel movements due to its good laxative properties and promoting proper digestion.
- Anjeer should be incorporated into the regular diet since it has an amount of potassium and other essential minerals, which can help regulate the body’s blood pressure.
- Anjeer, due to its fair amount of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, can help keep bones and muscles healthy and strong.
- The regular intake of anjeer can lower the triglyceride level in the blood, which is useful for maintaining a good heart. Anjeer can also help reduce the chances of obesity.
- The dried anjeer acts as an aphrodisiac, which means it increases the sexual ability and boosts the libido.
- Anjeer can help in the reduction of the breakdown of carbohydrates to prevent further damage to pancreatic cells. This process can enhance insulin secretion to lower the blood sugar level and prevention from diabetes.
- Anjeer fruit, due to its high mineral content and excellent anti-inflammatory properties, is useful in reducing the inflammation and pain involved in osteoarthritis and rheumatic arthritis.
Anjeer products and their recommended dosages
The ayurvedic dosage of anjeer varies according to its variants. Different forms of Anjeer products
| Product | Preparation | Dosage/ Day |
| Dried Powder | Take four dried anjeer and allow them to soak them overnight in milk. Then consume it the next morning with an empty stomach along with the honey for constipation. | One time |
| Capsule | Take one capsule of anjeer supplement with lukewarm water post-meal. | Two times |
| Paste | Take the mesocarp of anjeer and mix with the honey. Apply it on the skin and allow it to stand for 5-10 min. | Two times |
Precautions while taking Anjeer
- In pregnancy and breastfeeding, taking anjeer supplements is safe, but it is also essential to consult the medical practitioner before its administration.
- Taking the excess amount of anjeer can lower the blood sugar level; therefore, it is essential to avoid taking anjeer supplements and antidiabetic drugs. It can be dangerous to the body, so monitor BSL regularly.
- The fresh fruit of anjeer contains latex, and it can be irritable to the skin of anybody. Therefore, it is essential to take proper precaution or to consult a medical practitioner before its use.
FAQs
Is anjeer useful during constipation?
Yes, anjeer is very useful during constipation. Anjeer fruit has excellent laxative properties. It promotes bowel movement by loosening stools.
Would it be possible to control hypertension by taking anjeer?
Yes, it is possible to control hypertension problems by eating anjeer supplements. Anjeer has a good number of polyphenolic compounds, and they possess excellent antioxidant property, which can help maintain hypertension problems. Anjeer has various minerals, and they help the heart pump blood efficiently by widening blood vessels, which helps lower blood pressure.
Can I take anjeer for improving my digestion?
Yes, anjeer is very useful in improving the digestion process. Anjeer contains a fair amount of dietary fibers, which helps in bulking the stools, promoting bowel movement. The improved bowel movement helps in keeping the digestive tract healthy.
Summary
Anjeer is available worldwide either in fresh or in dried form. It is densely sweet and an astringent fruit with a low glycemic index; therefore, it is a boon for diabetic patients. Anjeer is hard to digest due to its fiber content, but it has excellent cooling power. Anjeer is a pandora box of essential nutrients, and as per Ayurveda, this helps balance the Vata and Pitta.
Read more about: Shatavari: Uses, Benefits & Side Effects
Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation