Mar 16, 20203 min read

Miraculin and The Role it Plays in Taste Changing

Updated: Feb 15, 2021

Miracle Berry is our main product and is highly effective due to an active ingredient called Miraculin. But what exactly is Miraculin? What is its mechanism? What are its different uses and benefits? Let’s find out more about Miraculin and the role it plays in taste changing.

Miraculin is a basic glycoprotein that was extracted from the miracle fruit plant, Synsepalumdulcificum or Richadelladulcificain scientific form, that comes from a West African native shrub. Although the general function of Miraculin as a taste modifier is to turn sour-tasting food into sweet ones, our first thought would often be that it must be strongly sweet when in actuality, Miraculin itself is not sweet. The effect it has of sweetening sour food is simply a reaction of the human tongue once exposed to it. Fascinatingly enough, this berry does not have a distinct taste when taken on its own. And since it enhances the taste of the rather acidic or citrusy types of food, that is how it got its title miracle fruit.

It is common knowledge that the surface of the human tongue is covered by a multitude of built-in receptors that determine different tastes which can be sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and/or umami. All of them have the ability to activate their respective taste receptors. In this case, when Miraculin is taken by itself, to which it is at neutral pH, it does not activate our sweet taste receptors just yet. What does the trick is, when it is at a low pH level (meaning acidic) and it changes shape, it then allows the Miraculin to activate the sweet taste receptors? Miraculin’s taste-modifying properties only reveal themselves once exposed to an acidic environment.

For a protein that has superpowers of shape-shifting, Miraculin can have many uses as well. Aside from the obvious ones like allowing us to indulge in guilt-free sweet treats that knock out negative caloric effects, this baby actually has a great potential to help out in diets for the obese and the diabetic, and even the cancer patients. There have been several findings of certain health benefits from some researches. Varying from numerous different research groups, Miraculin was tested out to an ample amount of participating test subjects, that have since proven in its results, the effectiveness of this sugar substitute.

Being a substitute for sugar, the discovery of Miraculin was to become a hot topic for those suffering from diabetes. Preliminary research suggests that Miraculin or the miracle fruit can also be useful in the treatment of diabetes, in such a way that it helps protect against insulin resistance. This finding was a result of a study published in 2006 in the Phytotherapy Researchscientific journal. Although it does not cure a person of diabetes, it aids in the prevention of worsening the illness. Not only that, but it can also satisfy the cravings of those sweet-deprived patients who, for sure, have very bland diets or meal plans.

In another study published in 2012, a group of researchers from the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing found that the miracle fruit can also be beneficial to cancer patients. Much like the study involving diabetic participants, the miracle fruit does not take steps toward curing cancer, but it still shares its benefits to the victims. Some of their test subjects have even reported back that Miraculin can get rid of the constant metallic taste that can sometimes be a side effect of chemotherapy treatment for cancer patients, overcoming the loss of appetite they experience in times when proper nutrition is needed.

Another case that can be helped by Miraculin is the case of those who wish to lose weight. Global obesity has been rising rapidly over the years and this can be a step towards keeping it from skyrocketing any further. According to a study published in 2011 in the journal Appetite, the miracle fruit may benefit those who want to reduce their calorie intake. In breaking down the test participants’ food intake for an entire day, the researchers were able to confirm the lower calorie consumption, therefore concluding that it can enhance the sweetness of low-sugar desserts with minimal calorie intake.

In conclusion, Miraculin plays a huge role in taste changing that leans toward the healthy side, with all its different uses and benefits. And what’s great about this is it is the main ingredient of our product to help make your fruit juices and desserts taste so much better.