Din Mohammed Dinu:A plant with potential medicinal properties is Roselle. In the regional language known as Chukai or Chukur. The Chukur tree is famous worldwide for its nutritional value, taste, and aroma. There is a huge demand for it in African countries including America and Japan.
However, the knowledge and use of the plant in Bangladesh are quite low. Researchers and Professors of the Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) have been inventing various delicious food and drinks including jam, jelly, pudding, chutney, pickle, chocolate, tea, and juice by processing the flower part of such an unconventional tree. Dr. Md. Solaiman Ali Fakir and his research team have been able to research the Chukur or Roselle plant to make these processed products.
On Friday (December 09) at 10 a.m. in a press conference organized by the crop and plant science department of the university, the chief researcher Dr. Md. Solaiman Ali Fakir.
About the plant, the researcher also said that the permanent and fleshy stems of roselle flowers are used as food. Various drinks including jam, jelly, tea, pickle, chutney, and juice can be prepared from Calyx of the Flower. Due to the bright red color of the Calyx, it can be used as an organic food coloring. Besides, Roselle can be preserved for a long time by drying and freezing. Young leaves of this plant are used for cooking and vegetable. The mature seeds are rich in pulp and fat and can be used as animal feed after processing.
The researcher also said about the medicinal properties of the tree, research has shown that the leaves and roots of this tree are full of medicinal properties. The colorful fruit contains important antioxidants including anthocyanins, flavonoids, and carotene. Due to these ingredients, the food and drink made from this plant are very useful for relieving heart pain, controlling high blood pressure, controlling diabetics, and quick recovery after cancer chemotherapy.