Diospyros melanoxylon (Tendu/Kendu): Health Benefits, Nutrition & Harvest Season

Diospyros melanoxylon, commonly called tendu or kendu (also known as Indian ebony), is a medium-sized tree native to India (and Sri Lanka). Belonging to the ebony family (Ebenaceae), its tough bark and wood are characteristic, but it is best known for its leaves and fruit. In fact, the large oval leaves – often called tendu patta or kendu leaves – are prized as natural wrappers for bidis (traditional hand-rolled cigarettes). (For example, Odisha is India’s third-largest producer of these beedi leaves, after Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.) Beyond the beedi trade, tendu offers many health-related benefits. Tribal communities have long eaten and used its fruit and leaves as food and medicine, and modern studies confirm they are rich in nutrients and antioxidants.

Health Benefits of Tendu Leaves

Tendu leaves (D. melanoxylon leaf) contain valuable phytochemicals and have been used in traditional medicine. In fact, analyses show the leaves are packed with polyphenols (such as phenolics, flavonoids, tannins and triterpenoids). These bioactives likely underlie many of the health benefits of tendu leaves: laboratory assays found leaf extracts strongly inhibited enzymes like α-amylase and α-glucosidase, suggesting an antidiabetic effect (by slowing carbohydrate digestion) . Moreover, traditional Ayurveda notes tendu leaf use as a diuretic, carminative and laxative, and for treating bleeding, eye infections and wounds. In short, tendu leaves combine antioxidant compounds with a long history of use for digestive and circulatory support.

• Antioxidant & Antidiabetic: Tendu leaf extracts contain high levels of phenolics, flavonoids and tannins. These antioxidants can neutralize free radicals, and lab studies show tendu leaf fractions significantly inhibit carbohydrate-digesting enzymes (α-amylase/α-glucosidase) in a dose-dependent way. This suggests potential benefits for blood sugar control.
• Traditional remedies: Tribes and healers use tendu leaves as a natural remedy – the leaves are cited as a diuretic (increasing urine flow), styptic (to stop bleeding), and carminative (relieving gas). They have also been applied to old wounds, skin issues and eye ailments in folk medicine.
• Rich in bioactives: Scientific screening confirms the leaves contain steroids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, and other phenolic compounds. These compounds are known for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects in other medicinal plants. In fact, Diospyros species often yield valuable flavones and triterpenes that can act as antimicrobials or anti-inflammatories. (While the main use of tendu leaves today is in beedis, these chemicals hint at its under-appreciated healing potential.)

Nutritional Components of Kendu Fruit

The small round kendu fruits (about 3–4 cm in diameter) are eaten fresh or dried by forest communities. Nutritional analyses show they are surprisingly wholesome. The juicy pulp is a good source of vitamins and minerals: for example, it contains the B‑vitamins thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2) and niacin (B3), plus vitamin C. In one study, 100 g of pulp provided about 20 mg of vitamin C – enough to help immunity and skin health – as well as appreciable B‑vitamin values. The pulp is also rich in minerals: it contains calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus and potassium (around 305 mg of K per 100 g, similar to kiwi fruit). Notably, the potassium is very high, supporting blood pressure regulation and heart function.

• Vitamins & Minerals: Kendu fruit pulp has a broad nutrient profile. It is especially rich in calcium and phosphorus and provides essential electrolytes like potassium and magnesium. It also delivers B-vitamins and vitamin C (about 20 mg/100g). This makes the fruit a nourishing wild snack with immune- and energy-supporting nutrients.
• Dietary Fiber: Every part of the fruit is high in fiber. The pulp contains about 6.6% crude fiber, while the peel is extremely fibrous (35%) and even the seeds have ~25% fiber. This fiber promotes healthy digestion and can help regulate blood sugar.
• Antioxidants: Tendu fruits are loaded with phenolic antioxidants. High total phenolic content and strong free-radical scavenging (DPPH/FRAP assays) have been reported. The pulp also contains significant amounts of gallic acid and tannic acid (on a dry basis, studies found ~28% and ~26% respectively). These compounds are powerful antioxidants and may protect cells from oxidative stress.

Overall, kendu fruit nutrition is impressive for a wild fruit: it combines vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in a low-calorie package. The fruit’s natural sugars and fiber make it a refreshing summer treat with a mild sweet taste when ripe (often eaten by tribes or fermented into juices).

Also Read: Strychnine Tree: A Natural Healer with a Complex Reputation

Geographic Distribution and Harvest Season

D. melanoxylon is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, especially thriving in central and eastern India. Major states where tendu is found include Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and parts of Andhra Pradesh/Telangana . For example, Odisha alone produces about 20% of India’s tender leaves (known as kendu patta) . The tree grows in deciduous forests and is treated as a valuable minor forest produce – forest-dwellers collect its leaves and fruit under regulated programs.

Seasonality: The harvest is tightly seasonal. Tendu fruits develop in the hot months: they typically first appear around March–April (some sources note May–June peak) and are gathered in summer. Tribals often collect the fresh fruit and sun-dry it for use during the rainy season when other fresh foods are scarce. As for the leaves, tradition dictates an early-spring bush-cutting (around Basanta Panchami, late January/February) to encourage new shoots. About 45–50 days later, the young leaves mature and are plucked for processing. In Odisha and nearby regions, leaf collection generally occurs in April–May (after the rainy monsoon arrives). These seasonal timings mean tendu products are available mainly in the late spring and early summer.

Cultural and Economic Importance

Beyond nutrition, tendu holds economic significance. Its fresh leaves (tendu patta) are considered “green gold” for forest communities, as they are the prime raw material for rolling bidis. The wood is also used as fuel. While the focus here is on health, it’s worth noting that many rural families depend on the collection and sale of tendu leaves as a livelihood. This makes Diospyros melanoxylon a tree that sustains both health and economy.

Also Read: Cursing Trees Without Cutting Them: Practice of The Tribes of Solomon Island

Conclusion

Diospyros melanoxylon (tendu/kendu) is more than a “bidi tree” – it is a nutrient- and medicine-rich wild plant. Its glossy green leaves contain potent antioxidants and have been used as remedies for centuries, while its sweet fruits supply vitamins, minerals and fiber. Learning about Diospyros melanoxylon benefits helps us appreciate this under-valued forest treasure. Encouraging sustainable use of tendu can support tribal livelihoods and give health-conscious people a taste of nature’s pharmacy. Next time you encounter a tendu fruit or leaf, remember its valuable nutritional and traditional virtues – and the important ecological heritage it represents.

Sources: Information synthesized from scientific studies and forestry reports ( In search of suitable extraction technique for large scale commercial production of bioactive fraction for the treatment of diabetes: The case Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb – PMC ) ( In search of suitable extraction technique for large scale commercial production of bioactive fraction for the treatment of diabetes: The case Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb – PMC ) (ODISHA FOREST DEVELOPEMENT CORPORATION), among others.