Synonyms--- Acerola cherry, Barbados cherry, West Indian Cherry, Wild Crapemyrtle, Malpighia glabra L., Malpighia emarginata DC., Malpighia biflora Poir., Malpighia punicifolia L., Malpighia retusa Benth. Vitamin C, Ascorbic Acid Chemical Name: (5R)-[(1S)-1,2-dihydroxyethyl]-3,4-dihydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one, or 2-oxo-L-threo-hexono-1,4- lactone-2,3-enediol, or (R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-((S)- 1,2-dihydroxyethyl)furan-2(5H)-one Molecular Formula: C6H8O6 Mol. Wt.: 176.12 g/mol Molecular Structure: Acerola,Malpighia glabra L.(family Malpighiaceae) is a tropical evergreen fruit-bearing shrub or small tree with spreading branches on a short trunk. It is usually 2–3 m (6.6–9.8 ft) tall, but sometimes reaches 6 m (20 ft) in height. Common names include Acerola, Barbados Cherry, West Indian Cherry and Wild Crapemyrtle. Acerola can be found in the southernmost parts of the contiguous United States (southern Florida and the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas), Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America as far south as Peru and Bahia in Brazil. It is cultivated in the tropics and subtropics throughout the world, including Taiwan and Guangxi Province of China, the Canary Islands, Ghana, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, India, Java, Hawaii, and Australia. The fruit is a bright red drupe 1–3 cm (0.39–1.2 in) in diameter with a mass of 3–5 g (0.11–0.18 oz). Drupes are in pairs or groups of three, and each contains three triangular seeds. The drupes are juicy and very high in vitamin C and other nutrients. They are divided into three obscure lobes and are usually acid to subacid, giving them a sour taste, but may be sweet if grown well. The fruit is edible and widely consumed in the species' native area, and is cultivated elsewhere for its high vitamin C content. There is 1677.6 mg of vitamin C in 100 g of fruit.A detailed nutrition facts analysis shows Acerola juice does contain 32 times the amount of vitamin C in orange juice (over 3000% as much). A comparative analysis of antioxidant potency among a variety of frozen juice pulps was carried out, and included the acerola fruit. Among the eleven fruits' pulps tested, acerola was the highest scoring domestic fruit, meaning it had the most antioxidant potency, with a TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant activity) score of 53.2 mmol g. The Acerola Cherry Extract used in dietary supplements is derived from the fruit of the plant Acerlola (Malpighia glabra L.).