By Bridget Sheehan
There’s a new plum in town: the Queen Garnet, and it packs more than just a tasty punch.
Sweet, with dark purple flesh and skin, these plums contain up to five times more anthocyanins (fruit-based antioxidants) than standard plum varieties.
The fruit of a non-GMO cross-bred Japanese Plum tree, developed by the Queensland Government’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, it’s licensed to Nutrafruit and is now grown in all states of Australia including Shepparton in Victoria, and a promising crop is due in supermarkets this season.
But this is more than a fruit promo.
Victoria University physiologist Professor Michael Mathai has studied the Queen Garnet extensively and is trialling its efficacy as a topical treatment for eczema. And he’s looking for adults with mild to moderate dermatitis to take part in a clinical trial.
Natural remedies for underserviced conditions
Previously focused on the impact of animal-based nutrients on the body, Professor Mathai’s interest in plant-based remedies was piqued in 2008. The daughter of his friend Dr Joanne Griggs had been diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome, a genetic condition that causes constant feelings of hunger. Dr Griggs came across Caralluma Fimbriata – a cactus-like succulent from India used for centuries to eliminate the feeling of hunger during famine. Dr Griggs found it reduced hunger in her daughter.
Professor Mathai investigated more and found that it reduced waist size in overweight adults in the general population. He and Dr Griggs then ran a clinical trial which showed some relief for managing Prader-Willi symptoms in children.
“I have long been interested in underserviced, undertreated diseases, and Prader-Willi, while rare, can be a desperate situation for parents to manage,” says Professor Mathai.
A plum opportunity
Meanwhile, back to the plum, animal-based trials found an extract from the Queen Garnet to be an effective treatment for obesity and hypertension in rats. So, in 2018 Professor Mathai alongside research colleagues from Victoria University and University of Southern Queensland, ran a clinical trial with human volunteers with obesity and hypertension.
The study found that while no significant weight loss occurred after drinking the Queen Garnet plum juice, it did reduce blood pressure, glucose, leptin, fasting plasma insulin, and inflammatory cytokines.
These findings have led Professor Mathai to his next treatment hypothesis – whether the anthocyanins in Queen Garnet plums, applied topically, can effectively treat eczema.
“Eczema is a common, potentially debilitating disease. It affects 10–20 per cent of the world’s population, causing itching, discomfort and can cause secondary infections if not properly managed,” Professor Mathai says.
“Anthocyanins have proven helpful in many skin disorders and our preliminary in vitro experiments with these plums are promising. We believe that the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties should delay or inhibit bacteria and inflammation caused by eczema going further than it should.”
Are you an adult with mild to moderate eczema?
Take part in a 12-week trial, involving three visits to VU City Tower, a dermatologist assessment, and a $50 supermarket voucher for participants. Find out more.
