• Family: Cactaceae family
• Origin: Mexico and South America

Dragon fruit plant is a night flowering vine-like cactus, the beautiful yellowish flower is about 1 foot long and 9 inches wide, bell shaped and very fragrant, they open during the early evening and wilt by daybreak. The fruit is oblong and has unique appearance because of its bright pink to red, green tipped overlapping scales rind. The edible portion is white or red, with hundreds of tiny black seeds. Its taste is sweet and juicy similar to that of pear, kiwi and watermelon. Dragon fruit is now grown commercially in Asia in places like Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Varieties:

• Hylocereus it has red skin and white flesh.
• Hylocereus polyrhizus it has red skin and red flesh.
• Selinecereus megalanthus it has yellow skin and white flesh.

Health Benefits:

• Dragon fruit help to lower blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes.
• Dragon fruit prevent formation of cancer causing free radicals.
• Dragon fruit helps moisturize and smoothen skin and decrease bad cholesterol level.
• Dragon fruit helps improve appetite.
• Dragon fruit can enhance the body metabolism because of its protein content.
• Dragon fruit helps improve digestion and reduce fat.
• Dragon fruit helps maintain the health of the eyes.
• Dragon fruit helps strengthen the bones and teeth.
• Dragon fruit helps in tissue development.
• Dragon fruit promotes healing of cuts and bruise.
• Dragon fruit helps improve memory.

Nutritional Value: per 100 g

• Carotene: 0.012 g.
• Vitamin C: 9.0 mg.
• Thiamine (Vitamin B1) traces
• Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 0.045 mg.
• Niacin (Vitamin B3): 0.430 mg.
• Calcium: 6 -10 mg
• Iron: 0.3 - 0.7 mg
• Phosphorus: 16 - 36 mg.
• Carbohydrates: 9-14 g
• Protein: 0.15 - 0.5 g
• Fiber: 0.3 - 0.9 g
• Water: 80-90g
• Fat: 0.1 - 0.6 g
• Calories: 35 - 50

Common names in different countries:

• English names: Night Blooming Cereus, Strawberry Pear, Belle of the Night, Conderella plant, Mood Flower.
• France: Cierce-Lezard, Poire de Cahrdon
• Germany: Distelbirm, Echte Stachnelbirn, Distelbirm, Drachenfrucht
• Hawaii: Pa-nani-oka, Pa-ni-ni, Kapunahou
• Portugal: Catobarse, Cardo-Ananaz
• Colombia, Mexico Venezuela: Flor de Caliz
• Puerto Rico: Pitajaya
• Mexico: Junco, Pitahaya Orejona, Reina de la Noche, Tasajo
• Sweden: Skogkaktus, Rud Pitahaya
• Vietnam: Thanh long
• China: Long Gou, For Lung Kor

Uses: Dragon fruits serve as preserves and spreads such as jam, puree and cordial; salad; sherbets and sorbets; fruit pizza; and beverages.