What the evidence says. Early or small human trials; promising but not yet conclusive.
Nutrition per serving 1 medium (80 g)
Water68 g85%
Sugars6.4 g8%
Fibre1.8 g2%
Other carbs1.4 g2%
Protein0.7 g1%
Fat0.2 g0%
Other1.5 g2%
What's in one serving, by weight — average composition (USDA).One serving as % of the adult daily requirement (FDA Daily Values). The bold outer ring = 100% of a day's needs.
Ambarella (Spondias dulcis) is a fruit used for good source of vitamin c, which supports antioxidant defense and is required for collagen synthesis. NutriDex grades the human evidence as Preliminary. Ambarella (Spondias dulcis, also called kedondong or golden apple) is a tart tropical fruit valued mainly as a low-calorie, hydrating source of vitamin C (roughly 30-42 mg/100 g, higher when semi-ripe), soluble fibre and potassium. Its purported health effects come almost entirely from in vitro and animal studies of fruit, leaf and bark extracts, which report strong DPPH antioxidant activity (fruit methanol extract IC50 about 1.9 ug/mL), alpha-glucosidase inhibition (fruit IC50 about 4.7 ug/mL), antimicrobial action, and laxative, thrombolytic and anticancer signals. There are no published human randomized controlled trials or cohort studies on ambarella, and much of the antidiabetic and lipid-lowering data is extrapolated from related Spondias species (S. mombin, S. mangifera, S. pinnata) rather than S. dulcis itself. Vitamin C content varies widely by cultivar and maturity. As a result, claims about lowering blood sugar, cholesterol or blood pressure in people remain unproven and the overall human-evidence tier is preliminary. Eaten as a whole fruit, however, it is a sound, nutrient-light addition to the diet, and acute oral toxicity testing in mice found no adverse effects up to 2000 mg/kg of extract.
Purported Benefits
✓Good source of vitamin C, which supports antioxidant defense and is required for collagen synthesis
✓Provides soluble fibre and pectin that may aid bowel regularity and satiety
✓Fruit extracts inhibit alpha-glucosidase in vitro, suggesting a possible (unproven in humans) effect on post-meal glucose
✓Polyphenol-rich extracts show strong free-radical scavenging (DPPH) in laboratory assays
✓Low energy density and high water content make it a light, hydrating whole-food snack
✓Traditional use for sore throat, skin and eye complaints, with preclinical antimicrobial support
Dosing & Compounds
Typical Dose
One medium fruit (about 60-100 g) eaten fresh, or 100-150 g in juice or salad, as part of a varied diet. No evidence-based therapeutic dose exists for humans.
Active Compounds
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)Pectin and soluble dietary fibrePotassiumFlavonoids (rutin, isoquercetin, quercetin)Phenolic acids (gallic, caffeic, chlorogenic, ellagic acid)Catechin and condensed tanninsCarotenoids (e.g. beta-carotene, minor)Organic acids (citric, malic)
Safety & Cautions
⚠
Generally safe as a food. The fruit has a large fibrous, spiny seed (stone) that should not be eaten and is a choking hazard, especially for children. Its high organic-acid content makes it quite sour and can aggravate acid reflux or sensitive teeth when eaten unripe in quantity. As a member of the Anacardiaceae (cashew/mango family), it could rarely trigger cross-reactive allergy in people sensitive to mango, cashew or pistachio. Concentrated leaf or fruit extracts and supplements are not standardized and, based on preclinical data, may have additive glucose-lowering effects, so people on antidiabetic drugs should monitor; safety in pregnancy, lactation and kidney disease (potassium load) has not been studied. No grapefruit-type CYP3A4 drug interaction is established for the fruit. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Ambarella with any medicine.
Ambarella is most often taken for Good source of vitamin C, which supports antioxidant defense and is required for collagen synthesis, Provides soluble fibre and pectin that may aid bowel regularity and satiety, Fruit extracts inhibit alpha-glucosidase in vitro, suggesting a possible (unproven in humans) effect on post-meal glucose, Polyphenol-rich extracts show strong free-radical scavenging (DPPH) in laboratory assays. Tart tropical fruit rich in vitamin C
Does Ambarella work — what does the evidence say?
Preliminary evidence. Early or small human trials; promising but not yet conclusive. Ambarella (Spondias dulcis, also called kedondong or golden apple) is a tart tropical fruit valued mainly as a low-calorie, hydrating source of vitamin C (roughly 30-42 mg/100 g, higher when semi-ripe), soluble fibre and potassium. Its purported health effects come almost entirely from in vitro and animal studies of fruit, leaf and bark extracts, which report strong DPPH antioxidant activity (fruit methanol extract IC50 about 1.9 ug/mL), alpha-glucosidase inhibition (fruit IC50 about 4.7 ug/mL), antimicrobial action, and laxative, thrombolytic and anticancer signals. There are no published human randomized controlled trials or cohort studies on ambarella, and much of the antidiabetic and lipid-lowering data is extrapolated from related Spondias species (S. mombin, S. mangifera, S. pinnata) rather than S. dulcis itself. Vitamin C content varies widely by cultivar and maturity. As a result, claims about lowering blood sugar, cholesterol or blood pressure in people remain unproven and the overall human-evidence tier is preliminary. Eaten as a whole fruit, however, it is a sound, nutrient-light addition to the diet, and acute oral toxicity testing in mice found no adverse effects up to 2000 mg/kg of extract.
What is the typical dose of Ambarella?
One medium fruit (about 60-100 g) eaten fresh, or 100-150 g in juice or salad, as part of a varied diet. No evidence-based therapeutic dose exists for humans.
Is Ambarella safe? Any cautions or side effects?
Generally safe as a food. The fruit has a large fibrous, spiny seed (stone) that should not be eaten and is a choking hazard, especially for children. Its high organic-acid content makes it quite sour and can aggravate acid reflux or sensitive teeth when eaten unripe in quantity. As a member of the Anacardiaceae (cashew/mango family), it could rarely trigger cross-reactive allergy in people sensitive to mango, cashew or pistachio. Concentrated leaf or fruit extracts and supplements are not standardized and, based on preclinical data, may have additive glucose-lowering effects, so people on antidiabetic drugs should monitor; safety in pregnancy, lactation and kidney disease (potassium load) has not been studied. No grapefruit-type CYP3A4 drug interaction is established for the fruit.
How many studies support Ambarella?
NutriDex cites 8 sources for Ambarella, graded "Preliminary".
Cite this page
APA
Peh, D. (2026). Ambarella (Spondias dulcis): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 16 Sept 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/ambarella
BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_ambarella,
author = {Peh, Daryl},
title = {Ambarella (Spondias dulcis): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
url = {https://nutridex.info/s/ambarella},
note = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-09-16}
}
For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.