Natal Plum/Christ's Thorn

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Bengal-currants
• carandas-plum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Jasminonerium salicinum
• Carissa salicina
• Echites spinosus
• Arduina carandas
• Jasminonerium carandas
• Capparis carandas

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Gentianaales, specifically being a member of the family Apocynaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identification is completed within the genus Carissa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across multiple regions of Asia and the Indian Ocean. Within the Western Indian Ocean, its presence is specifically noted in Mauritius. Its range extends significantly into China, where it can be found in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan regions. Furthermore, the species is distributed throughout Eastern Asia, including the island of Taiwan. These various locations highlight the wide environmental adaptability of Carissa carandas.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Carissa karan다 is characterized by its ability to thrive across diverse landscapes, primarily occupying subtropical and tropical environments. It is frequently found in coastal thickets, scrublands, and woodland margins, where it adapts to various soil types, ranging from sandy coastal soils to more compact inland terrains. A defining aspect of its environmental distribution is its vertical range within mountainous and hilly regions, where it can be found at various altitudes, reaching an elevational range maximum of 1500 m AMSL. This adaptability allows the species to inhabit different microclimates, often seeking well-drained areas with sufficient sunlight to support its growth patterns and reproductive cycles within these ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Carissa carandas is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. Within its morphological classification, it can also be described as a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its shrubby stature where the woody stems remain relatively low to the ground. Furthermore, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year without undergoing a seasonal shedding period, allowing for continuous metabolic activity and growth.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Carissa karanvas is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically developing as a shrub. This plant reaches a mean height of approximately 4 meters and is classified as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber or vine. It is a terrestrial species, meaning it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, and functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Carissa caraNDA is characterized by specific morphological adaptations in its foliage and a distinct metabolic profile regarding nutrient acquisition. The leaf structure exhibits measurable variability in dimension, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 4 cm, maintaining a mean length of 3.5 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2 cm and a maximum of 3.5 cm, contributing to the overall surface area available for photosynthetic processes. In terms of its nutrient cycling capabilities, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the soil's existing nitrogen availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to fulfill its metabolic requirements.

Leaf length max:

4 cm

Leaf length mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Carissa carandas is characterized by a flowering cycle that begins in September and concludes in February, though the specific timing can be variable throughout the year. During its reproductive phase, the plant produces fruits that exhibit specific morphological dimensions: the fruit length typically ranges from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm, with an average length of approximately 2 cm.

Flowering time :

Sep

Flowering time :

Feb

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

2 cm

Fruit length min:

1.5 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Carissa carandas has 2 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft fur Toxikologische Pathologie
5. IET nanobiotechnology

Fruit

1. Natural product research
2. BioMed research international

Chemicals

Carissa carandas has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Anthocyanins, Tannins, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Cardiac Glycosides.

Flavonoids

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
3. Chemistry & biodiversity

Anthocyanins

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Tannins

1. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Cardiac Glycosides

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Carissic acid

1. Natural product research

Delphinidin 3-galactoside

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Phenols

1. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology

Polyphenol

1. Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft fur Toxikologische Pathologie

UA

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Carissa carandas has 7 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antineoplastic.

Antioxidant

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Current pharmaceutical design
3. Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft fur Toxikologische Pathologie
4. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
5. IET nanobiotechnology

Cytotoxic

1. Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft fur Toxikologische Pathologie
2. Natural product research

Antibacterial

1. IET nanobiotechnology

Anticancer

1. IET nanobiotechnology

Antineoplastic

1. Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft fur Toxikologische Pathologie

Antiproliferative

1. Current pharmaceutical design

Hepatoprotective

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Medicinal Uses

Carissa carandas has 21 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, antioxidant, acute kidney injury, asthma, atherosclerosis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations