Plukenetia volubilis, commonly known as sacha inchi, sacha peanut, mountain peanut, Inca nut or Inca-peanut.
The fruits are capsules of 3 to 5 cm in diameter with 4 to 7 points, are green and ripen blackish brown.
The seeds of Inchi, oval, dark-brown, 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter and 45 to 100 grams of weight. The seeds have high protein (27%) and oil (35 - 60%) content, and the oil is rich in the essential fatty acids omega-3 linolenic acid (≈45-53% of total fat content) reducing cholesterol and the risk of death from coronary artery disease, balancing nerve cells; and omega-6 linoleic acid (≈34-39% of fat content) plays a role in preventing cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, regulating blood pressure, improving mental ability, decreasing brain degeneration, enhancing eyesight; as well as non-essential omega-9 (≈6-10% of fat content) has anti-cardiovascular effects and high blood pressure.
