Journal of Science and Technology

ISSN: 2456-5660 Volume 06, Issue 01, Jan-February 2021

www.jst.org.in DOI: https://doi.org/10.46243/jst.2021.v6.i1.pp126-131

Potential Health Benefits of Kiwifruits: The King of Fruits

Saumya Dwivedi1, Adarsh Kumar Mishra2, Sonali Priya3, Fatma Sibtain4 ,

Ashutosh Dhami5
1, 2, 3, 5
(Food Technology, SHUATS, Allahabad, U.P., India)
4
(Research Scholar in Food Science & Technology, WCDT, SHUATS, Allahabad, U.P., India)
4
Corresponding Author: [email protected]

To Cite this Article

Saumya Dwivedi, Adarsh Kumar Mishra, Sonali Priya, Fatma Sibtain and Ashutosh Dhami, “Potential Health
Benefits of Kiwifruits: The King of Fruits”, Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 06, Issue 01, Jan-February
2021, pp126-131

Article Info
Received: 25-09-2020 Revised: 10-12-2020 Accepted: 14-12-2020 Published: 27-12-2020
Abstract: Fruits are the essential element of the balanced nutritious diet. The kiwifruit (Actinidai deliciosa) is
originally a native crop of China, hence also knows as the Chinese gooseberry. The kiwifruit appears to be of ovoid
shape with slightly brown, hairy skin peel and macaque outlook. Kiwi is observed as a comparably minor crop with
0.2% of fruit production. Currently, Italy, New Zealand and Chile are the world’s top kiwi producing countries. The
kiwifruit is a small fruit that hold replete of flavors and health benefits. It is enriched with a tart sour and sweet
flavor with bright green flesh and small edible black seeds. The kiwifruit has been recognized as a rich source of
vitamin C and antioxidants. It has already been proven that, the kiwi fruit is an abundant source of potassium ,
magnesium and vitamin E. Kiwifruit is also known as an Immunity Booster. The kiwis accommodate various health
aids and are also used as medication to treat Hair Health, Asthma, Eye and Skin Health, and also Depression. This
article provides some information about the kiwi fruit and its various health benefits.
Keywords:Kiwifruits, potential health benefits, king of fruits, immune-boosting fruits, anti-oxidant.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
I. Introduction
Kiwis are small fruits that pack a lot of flavor and plenty of health benefits. Their green flesh is sweet and
tangy. It’s also full of nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E, folate, and potassium. They also have a lot of
antioxidants and are a good source of fiber. Their small black seeds are edible, as is the fuzzy brown peel, though
many prefer to peel the kiwi before eating it.Thanks to different growing locations, kiwis can be in season year-
round. They’re grown in California from November to May, and in New Zealand from June to October. Kiwi can
also be found in supplement form.
The basal family within the Ericales, Actinidiaceae, consists of the Actinidia, Saurauia and Clematoclethra
genera. The Actinidia genus, usually referred to as kiwifruit, It includes many horticultural species of economic
significance, for example s Actinidia chinensis Planchon, A. deliciosa (A. chinensis var. deliciosa A. Chevalier).
It is adioecious deciduous vine fruit tree, which gets its hairy peel and macaque-like outlook from the name
Mihoutao in China. It is also known as Hulitao (meaning fox peach), Tengli (meaning cane pear), Yangtao
(meaning sheep peach in Chinese), Muzi, Maomuguo, Matengguo, and Yangtangli, etc. In the New Zealand region,
it is generally called kiwifruit; In the British and American region, Chinese gooseberry; and in Japan, Chinese
monkey pears. Together with American avocado, U.S. blueberry, Australian Queensland nut, kiwifruit has been
considered in the 20th century as the most successfully domesticated wild fruit tree (Honghua, 2017).
Approximately 54 species and 75 taxa have been described in Actinidia3, all of which are perennial, deciduous and
dioecious plants with a climbing or straggling growth habit. The kiwifruit species are often reticulate polyploids
with a base chromosome number of x = 29
Kiwifruit is still a relatively minor crop, making up perhaps 0.2% of the total crop. Total world annual fruit
production. The big-fruited kiwifruit of trade selections for Actinidia chinensis and A. delicious two closely related
species. Most selections for existing kiwifruit cultivars are from the wild or from seedling populations and just a
Published by: Longman Publishers 126 | Page
 Potential Health Benefits of Kiwifruits: The King of Fruits

few outcomes are from planned hybridizations. Each year, around 1.5-1.6 million tons of kiwifruit are currently
grown. Italy (25% of the current global output), New Zealand (20 percent) and Chile (7.5 percent) are the top three.
In terms of foreign exchange, major producing countries. Exports from Italy c. 66 per cent of its kiwifruit, at least 94
per cent of New Zealand and Chile c. 88%. Approximately two-thirds of the latest plantings of kiwifruit are in the in
the northern hemisphere, and in the southern hemisphere, one third (Ferguson & Seal 2008).
The kiwi fruit centre of origin is in the southwestern China's mountains and ranges. Kiwifruit has got it, starting in
the early 20th century, a brief history of domestication when its seeds were added to New Zealand. In, through
decades of domestication and substantial selection efforts numerous varieties of wild kiwi fruits have been produced
and kiwifruits have become a significant worldwide fresh fruit with 1.44 million tons of annual production in 2011
(Huang, 2013).
Kiwifruit are large, long-lived vines that cause their growth requirements to be demanding. They need
strong and costly mechanisms of support. Well-drained soils, as well as a good supply of moisture are
required because of their large leaves consume 80-100 litres of water a day. The equivalent of at least 700 mm of
rainfall can occur in total during the vegetative period.
Kiwi fruit has long been nicknamed 'the king of fruits' because of its surprisingly high content of vitamin
C and balanced nutritional values are composition of minerals, fibre and other health-beneficial minerals. Kiwis are
small fruits that contain a great deal of flavor and a great deal of health benefits. Their sweet and tangy flesh is
green. It is also full of vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E, folate, and potassium nutrients. They also have a great deal
of antioxidants and are a good fiber source. Like the fuzzy brown peel, their small black seeds are edible, but many
prefer to peel the kiwi prior to consuming it.

1.1 Nutritional Composition of Kiwifruit

As Fruits contain huge dietary sources of antioxidant phytocompounds which are helpful for
human health. Actinidia species of fruits contain large amount of vitamin C (Nishiyama et al., 2004). Now a days
kiwifruit is very popular fruit because it having high source of vitamin C and also contain flavonoids,vitamin
E,minerals (Du et al., 2009). The nutritional value of kiwifruit species is given below

Table 1: Nutritional composition of kiwifruit

Golden kiwifruit (Actinidia Chinensis) Fuzzy kiwifruit (Actinidia Delicosa)

Nutritional value per 100 g Nutritional value per 100 g

Energy 251 KJ ( 60 kcal Energy 255 KJ (61 Kcal)

)
protein 1.23 g protein 1.14 g

Fat 0.56 g Fat 0.52 g

Carbohydrate 14.23 g Carbohydrate 14.66 g

sugars 10.98 g sugars 8.99 g

Dietary fiber 2g Dietary fiber 3g

MINERALS

Calcium 20 mg Calcium 34 mg

Phosphorus 29 mg Phosphorus 34 mg

Sodium 3 mg Sodium 3 mg

127 | Page
 Potential Health Benefits of Kiwifruits: The King of Fruits

Magnesium 14 mg Magnesium 17 mg

Zinc 0.10 mg Zinc 0.14 mg

Iron 0.29 mg Iron 0.31 mg

Manganese 0.058 mg Manganese 0.098 mg

Potassium 316 mg Potassium 312 mg

VITAMINS

Vitamin A 114 µg Vitamin A 122 µg

vitamin B1 (Taiamine) 0.024 mg vitamin B1 (Taiamine) 0.027 mg

vitamin B2 ( Riboflavin ) 0.046 mg vitamin B2 ( Riboflavin ) 0.025 mg

vitamin B3 ( Niacin ) 0.28 mg vitamin B3 ( Niacin ) 0.341 mg

vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) 0.5 mg vitamin B5 (Pantothenic 0.183 mg

acid)

vitamin B6 0.057 mg vitamin B6 0.063 mg

vitamin B9 ( Folate ) 34 µg vitamin B9 ( Folate ) 25 µg

vitamin C 105.4 mg vitamin C 92.7 mg

choline 5 mg choline 7.8 mg

vitamin E 1.49 mg vitamin E 1.46 mg

vitamin K 5.5 µg vitamin K 40.3 µg

SOURCE: USDA Nutrient Database

1.2 Health Benefits of Kiwi Fruit

Kiwi Fruit is one of those fruits which are needed to being the daily diet. The amazing health benefits of
kiwi fruits are far beyond dimagination, these lies from heart disease to skin disease.
Kiwi Fruit is worth eating, as the entire fruit after removing the skin is edible even the seeds.
Several worth mentioning health and nutritional benefits of kiwi fruit are

 Kiwi Fruit in Hair Health

The omega3 fatty acid present in the kiwi fruit helps retain the moisture of the hair and prevent moisture
loss. The constant blood circulation in the scalp is aided by the iron content of the fruit. The premature graying of
hair is inhibited by the Presence of copper in kiwi fruit. Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) of this fruit retards the rate of
hair fall and prevents baldness. Zinc, magnesium, and phosphorus are found to be helpful in hair growth and
increased blood circulation and these minerals are available in a good percentage in this fruit (Tyagi et al., 2015).
 Kiwi Fruit in Cancer
128 | Page
 Potential Health Benefits of Kiwifruits: The King of Fruits

Cancer is initiated by a mutation of genes and surprisingly kiwi fruit have an antimutagenic component and
glutathione, these are responsible for the inhibition of genetic mutation. Kiwi Fruit has a digestive compound which
is having more rapid action than dietary fiber and this compound is accountable for the prevention of colorectal
cancer (Lal et al., 2010).
 Kiwi Fruit as Antioxidant
Kiwi Fruit is a natural antioxidant therefore it prevents the oxidation of good cholesterol (HDLs).
 Kiwi Fruit as immunity booster
Beta carotene(Vitamin A), Ascorbic Acid( Vitamin C),Vitamin E, copper are some of the key minerals
required for a better building and development of the immune system and kiwi fruit have all these constituent in a
good amount, also the iron content of kiwi fruit helps build a good immune system.
 Kiwi Fruit in Heart functioning
Kiwi fruit is found to have an anti-platelets factor which prevents over functioning of platelets as it is one
of the reasons for various cardiovascular diseases. Soanti- platelets factor of kiwi fruit modifies platelet activity to
avoid cardiovascular diseases. Due to the rich content of arginine and glutamate amino acids it has several other
health benefits too as arginine helps in improving blood flow because it acts in vasodilatation; it also helps in blood
clot reduction, fat Percentage reduction in blood. Due to low sodium concentration and high potassium
Concentration in kiwi fruit the risk of cardiovascular disease is low. Also the high fiber content of kiwi fruit helps
reduce Cholesterol level of blood and prevents heart disease. The other components of kiwi fruit like omega 3 fatty
Acid, folate, magnesium, and vitamin E has potential effect in reducing Coronary disease.
 Kiwi Fruit in Eye health
The richness of kiwi fruit in Lutein, a carotenoidvitamin found in retina of eye which needs to be externally
consumed helps prevent age related blindness.
 Kiwi Fruit in skin health
The role of kiwi fruit in healthy skin is worth mentioning here as, the presence of Vitamin C, Vitamin E,
amino acid makes the skin healthy because Vitamin C acts as antioxidant and prevent damage caused on skin by
sun, pollution, smoke and keeps skin young. Vitamin C is also responsible for formation of collagen which is a
connective protein and helps in the repairing skin. Vitamin E of kiwi fruit makes skin soft, moist and protect skin
from regeneration, also the antioxidant and along with this Vitamin E helps the kin to glow. The amino acid of kiwi
fruit protects the skin from sun damage.
 Kiwi Fruit in Depression
Kiwi Fruit can be seen as a good anti-depressant because of Inositol present in it, this inositol acts as
precursor of intracellular secondary messenger system and this helps in releasing the happy hormone called
serotonin for reducing stress and depression. Also due to low sodium to potassium ratio in kiwi fruit, it acts
positively in hyper tension to produce calm effect.
 Kiwi Fruit in Physical Fitness and Weight loss
Kiwi Fruit because of its high amount of electrolytes acts as a pretty good workout meal because it
replenishes those minerals which are lost during exercise and heavy work out. Kiwi Fruit have excellent balance of
nutrient per calorie and because of this kiwi fruits helps in weight loss promotion.
 Kiwi Fruit in Pregnant Women's Health
Folate (Vitamin B6) is considered to be beneficial for the development of foetus and making them healthy
in pregnant women and this Folateis found in appreciable amount in Kiwi Fruit.
 Kiwi Fruit in Blood Clotting and Absorption of Vitamin D
Vitamin K content of Kiwi Fruit is accountable for promoting blood clotting and also for the absorption of
Calciferol (Vitamin D).
 Kiwi Fruit in Anemia
The iron absorption of kiwi fruit increases hemoglobin content and inhibit the scope of anemia.
 Kiwi Fruit in Kidney Stone
The Potassium and Magnesium content of Kiwi Fruit is better in reducing the chance of Kidney Stone formation.
 Kiwi Fruit in Better Sleep
The happy hormone serotonin secreted by kiwi fruit helps to get a sound sleep.
 Kiwi Fruit in Blood Pressure
High potassium intake can results into normal blood pressure and kiwi fruit helps to do so.
 Anti-microbial action of Kiwi Fruit
Anti-HIV activity of methanol fraction isolated has been observed from a gold kiwi fruit (Singletary, 2012).

129 | Page
 Potential Health Benefits of Kiwifruits: The King of Fruits

 Kiwi Fruit in Digestive Health

Kiwi Fruit has proteolytic enzyme called actinidin, which is a protein dissolving enzyme and improve
protein digestion and also help in digestion of meal like papin, bromelain for smooth traffic in digestive tract. The
fiber content of kiwi fruit also helps in enhancing this result by its actions (Richardson et al., 2018).
 Kiwi Fruit in Bone Health
Variable Composition of Folate, magnesium and Vitamin Ein Kiwi fruit helps in Bone formation and
Vitamin K have significant role in bone mass building by enhancing Osteotrophic activity in the bone.
1.4 Kiwi fruit can cure various ailments such as
 Can assist in asthma care
It is known that the high amount of vitamin C and antioxidants found in kiwis will potentially help treat asthma
sufferers.
 Helps in digestion
Kiwis have tons of fibre, which is ideal for digestion right now. They also contain a proteolytic enzyme that can help
break down protein called actinidin. Kiwi extract containing actinidin significantly improved the digestion of most
proteins.
 Skin health
Vitamin C contributes to the development of collagen, which is a key component in cells and tissues, including the
skin, in the body. The vitamin also improves the ability of the body to heal wounds.
 Throughout pregnancy
Kiwifruit contains folate, which is important for the division of cells. Doctors encourage women to take extra folate
during pregnancy, as it may protect the fetus from developmental issues, such as neural tube defects.

Some Other benefits of kiwi fruit includes:

 Childrens suffering from asthama may be given kiwi fruit for enhanced positive effect.
 Nerve Functioning and metabolism gets improved on Kiwi Fruit consumption.
 Kiwi Fruit Consumption maintains the osmotic balance of the body.
 The Richness of Kiwi Fruit in Phytochemicals(Xanthophylls,Luteins,Beta carotene); Phenolic
Compounds( Flavonoids and anthocyanins); and Antioxidants, Vitamin C and Vitamin E; and other body
essentials have made this Fruit a Essential Requirement of daily diet.

II. Conclusion
The present study was undertaken to analyze and discuss the kiwifruit origination, adaptability along with
its high nutritional and medicinal value. From the above study it can concluded that the kiwifruit shows a wealthy
effect on health with the presence of ascorbic acid, anthocyanin and antioxidants. Since it is observed that the fruit is
a minor crop with about 1.5 million tons of annual production, fruit is rather one of the extravagant or lavish fruits.
Therefore it is consumed comparatively less. Also the kiwifruit carries a tangy and sweet flavor which may not be
preferred by many. The kiwifruit has been perceived as a source of nutritive elements like energy, magnesium,
folate, vitamin K, phenolic compounds. Kiwifruit is used in medical industry for their physiological effectiveness
such as in Bone Health, Digestive Health, Blood Pressure, Anti Microbial action etc. It also helps in improving the
metabolic rate and nerve functioning. For our well being we need to be conscious about the elements we intake and
maintain the consumption of nutritious fibers. If we tend to actively engage in few quick and east to imitate and
initiate balanced dietary plans along with certain changes in our lifestyles then, we can surely bring a stable and non
venturous future for the next centuries.

References
[1]Bisht, P. S., Attri, B. L., Das, B. & Kumar, A, (2012). Cultivation of kiwi fruit in temperate region of uttarakhand; Rashtriya Krishi 7(1), 7-9.
[2]Du G, Li M, Ma F, Liang D (2009) Antioxidant capacity and the relationship with polyphenol and Vitamin C in Actinidia fruits. Food Chem
13(2):557–562
[3]Ferguson, A. A., & Seal, A. G. (2008). Kiwifruit. In Temperate fruit crop breeding (pp. 235-264). Springer, Dordrecht.
[4]Honghua, X., Na, Y., Jia, Z., Jiahui, Y., & Rice, C. S. (2017). The Wondrous Kiwifruit--Origin, Cultivation and Utilization. International
Journal of Horticulture, 7(1).
[5]Huang, S., Ding, J., Deng, D., Tang, W., Sun, H., Liu, D. & Yu, J. (2013). Draft genome of the kiwifruit Actinidia chinensis. Nature
communications, 4(1), 1-9.
[6]Lal, S., Ahmed, N., Singh, S. R., Singh, D. B., Mir, J. I., & Kumar, R. (2010). Kiwifruit: Miracle Berry. 47(07), 52-54.

130 | Page
 Potential Health Benefits of Kiwifruits: The King of Fruits
[7]Nishiyama I, Yamashita Y, Yamanaka M, Shimohashi A, Fukuda T, et al. (2004) Varietal difference in vitamin C content in the fruit of
kiwifruit and other Actnidia species. J Agric Food Chem 52: 5472-5475.
[8]Richardson, D. P., Ansell, J., & Drummond, L. N. (2018). The nutritional and health attributes of kiwifruit: a review. European journal of
nutrition, 57(8), 2659-2676.
[9]Singletary, K. (2012). Kiwifruit: overview of potential health benefits. Nutrition Today, 47(3), 133-147.
[10]Stirk, Bernadine (2005). "Growing Kiwifruit" (PDF). Pacific Northwest Extension Publishing. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
[11]Tyagi, S., Nanher, A. H., Kumar, V., Nishad, S. K., Ahmad, M., & Bhamini, K. (2015). Kiwifruit: Health benefits and medicinal importance.
Rashtriya krishi, 10(2), 98-100.
[12]Ward, C; Courtney, D (2013). Kiwifruit: taking its place in the global fruit bowl. Advances in Food and Nutrition Research.

131 | Page