FAQ & Site Info

Hedgeapples are not toxic. They are similar to orange peels. Although, many cattle have died from hedgeapples because they get lodge in their throats and they suffocate. Your cat or dog will turn there nose away from hedgeapples.

It is reported from many people that the HedgeApple does work to repel cockroaches and spiders. It can not be stated if they work or not, but the University of Iowa did studies on the Hedge Apple and they showed great promise as a repellent for the cockroach.

So far, some scientists have discovered elemol, osajin, and pomiferin in the essential oil of the Osage Apple.

The fruit from the bois d'arc tree, commonly known as the Osage Orange tree, contains extraordinary high levels of isoflavone compounds. Isoflavone compounds may play a role in lowering one's risk for heart disease and cancer, ease menopause symptoms and improve bone health. The unique isoflavones from the Osage Orange has been shown to protect brain cells, or neurons from the toxic effect of amyloid beta peptide. Amyloid beta peptide is believe to be responsible for the degeneration of neurons in Alzheimer's patients. However, the precise mechanisms by which the isoflavones block the toxicity of amyloid beta peptide are unknown, according to studies in some laboratories. Soybeans contain less than one-tenth of one percent of isoflavone compounds. By comparison, the dry mass of the Osage Orange hedge balls contain between 5 percent and 10 percent of isoflavone compounds. No known dietary plant contains this high level of isoflavone. The full study from Texas A&M can be read on my blog. http://hedgeapple.blogspot.com/2012/07/hedge-apples-as-cure-for-alzheimers.html

Elemol, a sesquiterpene extracted from Osage Orange fruit, shows excellent promise with insect repellent properties comparable to DEET, according to some research. A full posting of the research on the natural insect repellent properties found in the Osage Orange can be found on my blog. http://hedgeapple.blogspot.com/2012/07/hedge-apples-or-deet.html

ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity. USDA researchers at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, have developed a new laboratory test to measure the oxygen radical absorption capacity of foods and natural substances. Known as the ORAC scale, it is one of the most sensitive and reliable methods for measuring antioxidant capacity. The first test of its kind, the measure gauges both the time and degree of free-radical inhibition. All antioxidant capacity measures are estimated by Ferric Reducing Power and are expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent (TE) per 100 grams (µTE/100 g). The ORAC test is accurate to +/- 5%.