Mesembryanthemum edule

Mesembryanthemum edule is an easy-care, flowering, shrubby, flat-growing plant genus from the Aizoaceae family, whose natural range extends from South Africa and Ethiopia to south-western Arabia. The succulent (= water-storing) perennial has small, semicircular, thick and fleshy, green, yellow or reddish leaves. The plant flowers from April to October. Its flowers are white, orange or red.

The fruits, which look slightly similar to a fig, have a jelly-like, sweet and sour flesh and are edible. They are processed into jam (sour fig jam). It has been known for a long time that the midday flower is edible, the more intensive use as a salt-tolerant and mineral-rich vegetable plant has been tested, also used as a salad.

Mesembryanthemum edule contains polyphenolic tannins, diterpenes, various fatty acids, citric acid and malic acid. Ethanolic extracts from the above-ground plant are said to have astringent, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and antiproliferative properties.

A paraffin-based ointment containing Mesembryanthemum edule led to an improvement in eczematous skin parameters in atopic eczema. Juice and pith from the leaves are used in medicine to treat burn wounds.

e.g. Dr. Hauschka MED Intensive Ice Plant Cream

1. Hanen F et al.(2009) Interspecific variability of antioxidant activities and phenolic composition in Mesembryanthemum genus. Food Chem Toxicol 47:2308-2313.
2. Lakhdar A et al.(2011) Municipal solid waste compost application improves productivity, polyphenol content, and antioxidant capacity of Mesembryanthemum edule. J Hazard Mater 191(1-3):373-379.
3. Omoruyi BE et al. The inhibitory effect of Mesembryanthemum edule (L.) bolus essential oil on some pathogenic fungal isolates. BMC Complement Altern Med 14:168.
4. Schario M et al.(2014) Children with dry skin and atopic predisposition: daily use of emollients in a participant-blinded, randomized, prospective trial. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 27:208.
5. https://www.pharmazeutische-zeitung.de/ausgabe-012010/trockenpflanze-zur-medizinischen-hautpflege/
6. Herppich WB et al. (2008) Effects of saline irrigation on growth, physiology and quality of Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L., a rare vegetable crop. J. Appl. Bot. Food Qual. 82: 47-54.