Autumn Olive or Elaeagnus

Here is another plant in my series on Nutraceuticals meaning the combination of "nutrition" and "pharmaceutical". Nutraceuticals are foods or food products that provides health and medical benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease. The Autumn Olive ( Elaeagnus umbellata) or as Japanese Silverberry is related to the Goumi or Elaeagnus multiflora. These plants are native to eastern Asia from the Himalayas east to Japan. The Autumn Olive is known as a nitrogen fixer where airborne nitrogen can be fixed in its roots and are able to grow in totally infertile soil. Of course adding nutrients to the soil helps produce more leaves and better berries. The big deal with the Autumn Olive and others from the Family: Elaeagnaceae, is that their berries contain a high amount of the carotenoid antioxidant, lycopene which have been shown to display antioxidant properties effective against cancer mechanisms. Lycopene is a phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, such as red carrots, watermelons and papayas.