persimmon

w

Persimmons

Diospyros virginiana

Eastern Deciduous Forest

The persimmon fruit and other parts of the tree have medicinal properties inherent to the astringent qualities of the tannins. The Catawba Indians boiled persimmon tree bark in water and made a mouth rinse that was used to treat thrush, a fugal disease of the mouth characterized by white lesions. The leaves and fruit are rich in vitamin C and have been used as an antiscorbutic (treatment for scurvy). The astringent ripe fruit were made into a decoction to treat bloody stools.  It was used as a poultice externally to treat warts. 

Tannins – These are phenolic compounds which acts as astringents.

w

Sources:http://www.sierrapotomac.org/W_Needham/Persimmon_051023.htm