ETHNOBOTANICAL, NUTRITIONAL, AND FUNCTIONAL PROSPECTS OF INDONESIAN MANGROVE APPLES (Sonneratia spp.)

Abstract

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS- Comprehensive review of Indonesian mangrove apple (Sonneratia spp.), focusing on S. alba, S. caseolaris, and S. ovata across major coastal regions.- Nutritional profile of Indonesian mangrove apple characterized by significant levels of vitamins, flavonoids, and organic acids with high bioactive potential.- Documented functional properties of Indonesian mangrove apple, include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and antidiabetic activities.- Emphasizes the role of mangrove apple utilization in promoting supporting food security and public health, sustainable coastal ecosystem conservation and biodiversity preservation.ABSTRACTMangrove apples (Sonneratia spp.), native to Indonesia’s extensive mangrove forests, is distributed across Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua. This review synthesizes ethnobotanical uses, nutritional attributes, and functional potential of three main species S. alba, S. caseolaris, and S. ovata that hold both ecological and cultural significance. A review article search was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 framework and structured in accordance with the standard IMRaD across Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, yielding 91 eligible studies from an initial 612 records. Ethnobotanical evidence documents diverse applications in traditional foods, including chips, stick crackers, sweets such as dodol, syrup, candy, ice cream, and marshmallow, reflecting deep-rooted ties between coastal communities and mangrove ecosystems. Nutritional analyses highlight rich contents of vitamins and bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, and organic acids. These constituents exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and antidiabetic properties, underscoring the species’ promise as a functional food ingredient. By integrating traditional culinary heritage with scientific evidence, this review positions Sonneratia spp. as both a symbol of Indonesia’s coastal identity and a contributor to food security, health, and biodiversity conservation.