International Journal of Horticulture, 2024, Vol.14, No.6, 426-437 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 428 flower clusters and vibrant blossoms also attract pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies, making it an appealing plant in agritourism settings (Erickson et al., 2022). The fruit of Akebia trifoliata ripens from September to October (the eighth month of the lunar calendar) and has a unique appearance. It is elongated and oval, resembling a banana, with a purple or brownish skin. Upon ripening, the fruit skin naturally splits open to reveal milky white or golden-yellow pulp (Figure 1). The pulp is juicy, smooth, and sweet, with a distinctive aroma and delicate texture that is highly favored by consumers. Each fruit usually contains between 100 and 200 seeds (Zhao et al., 2023). Despite the high number of seeds, Akebia trifoliata has a high edible rate, and the sweetness of its pulp makes it highly marketable. In addition to being a fruit, Akebia trifoliata also possesses certain ornamental qualities. The mature fruit, with its naturally split appearance, draws attention from visitors, adding to the enjoyment of picking activities. Figure 1 Fruit development stages of Akebia trifoliata Image caption: The figure depicts the fruit of Akebia trifoliata at different stages of maturity. (A) Fruits before ripening, showing an elongated, oval shape with a purple hue. (B) Fruits after ripening, with the skin splitting open to reveal the inner pulp 2.3 Nutritional and medicinal value As a fruit with both nutritional and medicinal uses, Akebia trifoliata is increasingly valued for its rich nutrients and significant medicinal effects. Its fruit contains a variety of soluble sugars, as well as essential minerals and trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and selenium. It also contains an abundance of amino acids, particularly eight essential amino acids including valine, lysine, methionine, isoleucine, and phenylalanine (Wang et al., 2022; Zhong et al., 2022b). These nutrients help to detoxify the body, boost immunity, and have functions like nourishing the kidneys and strengthening the body. Furthermore, the fruit is believed to offer benefits for skin health and anti-aging, making it a highly nutritious health-promoting fruit (Sun et al., 2023). Beyond its nutritional value, the stems, vines, roots, and fruits of Akebia trifoliata all have medicinal properties and are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Folk medicine uses it for its diuretic, lactagogue, and muscle-relaxing effects to treat ailments such as cough from overexertion, bone fractures, edema, burns, lymphatic tuberculosis, urinary tract stones, and rheumatic joint pain (Liu et al., 2018; Wang et al., 2020). The fruit can also be used for winemaking, and its seeds can be pressed for oil, increasing its application potential in medicine and food processing. Currently, the market has developed various processed products using Akebia trifoliata as raw material, such as fruit teas and juices, further expanding its industrial value (Jiang et al., 2020).
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