Durian: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Durian is an evergreen, tropical tree found in southeast Asia. The distinctive fruit has a spiky outer covering and smells of rotten eggs. The fruit, bark, roots, and leaves are used to make medicine.

People use durian for fever, high blood pressure, liver disease, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

There isn't enough reliable information to know how durian might work.

How does it work ?

There isn't enough reliable information to know how durian might work.

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence for

A hormonal disorder that causes enlarged ovaries with cysts (polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS).
Anxiety.
Common cold.
Depression.
Fever.
High blood pressure.
Increasing sexual desire in healthy people.
Indigestion (dyspepsia).
Infection of the intestines by parasites.
Insomnia.
Liver disease.
Malaria.
Sexual desire.
Skin diseases.
Wound healing.
Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of durian for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Durian fruit that has had the seeds removed is LIKELY SAFE when eaten in food amounts. There isn't enough reliable information to know if durian fruit is safe in the amounts used in medicines.

Durian seeds are POSSIBLY UNSAFE unless cooked. The raw seeds contain chemicals that are thought to be toxic and carcinogenic.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if durian is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Diabetes: There is concern that durian fruit might make diabetes worse if eaten regularly. It increases blood sugar levels more than other fruits, such as bananas or mangos.

Interactions

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Alcohol (Ethanol) interacts with Durian
The body breaks down alcohol to get rid of it. Durian might decrease how quickly the body breaks down alcohol. Drinking alcohol and taking durian might increase the effects and side effects of alcohol. Don't drink any alcohol if you are taking durian.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of durian depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for durian. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

View References

REFERENCES:

Toledo, F., Arancibia-Avila, P., Park, Y. S., Jung, S. T., Kang, S. G., Heo, B. G., Drzewiecki, J., Zachwieja, Z., Zagrodzki, P., Pasko, P., and Gorinstein, S. Screening of the antioxidant and nutritional properties, phenolic contents and proteins of five durian cultivars. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2008;1-13.

Haruenkit, R., Poovarodom, S., Leontowicz, H., Leontowicz, M., Sajewicz, M., Kowalska, T., Delgado-Licon, E., Rocha-Guzman, N. E., Gallegos-Infante, J. A., Trakhtenberg, S., and Gorinstein, S. Comparative study of health properties and nutritional value of durian, mangosteen, and snake fruit: experiments in vitro and in vivo. J Agric Food Chem 2007;55(14):5842-5849.

Leontowicz, M., Leontowicz, H., Jastrzebski, Z., Jesion, I., Haruenkit, R., Poovarodom, S., Katrich, E., Tashma, Z., Drzewiecki, J., Trakhtenberg, S., and Gorinstein, S. The nutritional and metabolic indices in rats fed cholesterol-containing diets supplemented with durian at different stages of ripening. Biofactors 2007;29(2-3):123-136.

Berry, S. K. Cycloproprene fatty acid in some Malaysian edible seeds and nuts. I Durian (Durio zibethinus, Murr.). Lipids 1981;15:452.

Stanton, W. R. The chemical composition of some tropical food plants VI: Durian. Tropical Science 1966;8(1):6-10.

Roongpisuthipong, C., Banphotkasem, S., Komindr, S., and Tanphaichitr, V. Postprandial glucose and insulin responses to various tropical fruits of equivalent carbohydrate content in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 1991;14(2):123-131.

Singh, P. Journal of the Malaya Branch British Medical Association 1941;5(1):62-63.

Olivieri, J., Quiliquini-Chambard, A. M., and Hauser, C. Allergy to durian. Allergy 2002;57(3):263.

Ogle, C. W. and Teh, Y. F. Durian and alcohol. A preliminary report. Singapore Med J 1969;10(4):288-290.

Leontowicz, H., Leontowicz, M., Haruenkit, R., Poovarodom, S., Jastrzebski, Z., Drzewiecki, J., Ayala, A. L., Jesion, I., Trakhtenberg, S., and Gorinstein, S. Durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) cultivars as nutritional supplementation to rat's diets. Food Chem Toxicol 2008;46(2):581-589.

Rudiyansyah and Garson, M. J. Secondary metabolites from the wood bark of Durio zibethinus and Durio kutejensis. J Nat Prod 2006;69(8):1218-1221.

Nititham, S., Komindr, S., and Nichachotsalid, A. Phytate and fiber content in Thai fruits commonly consumed by diabetic patients. J Med Assoc Thai 2004;87(12):1444-1446.

Maninang JS, Lizada, MCC, Gemma, H. Inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme by Durian (Durio zibethinus Murray) fruit extract. Food Chem 2009;117(2):352-355.

Husin NA, Rahman S, Karunakaran R, Bhore SJ. A review on the nutritional, medicinal, molecular and genome attributes of Durian (Durio zibethinus L.) the king of fruits in Malaysia. Bioinformation 2018;14(6):265-70.

Jiang H, Dong J, Jiang S, et al. Effect of Durio zibethinus rind polysaccharide on functional constipation and intestinal microbiota in rats. Food Res Int 2020;136:109316.

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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