Carissa
Carissa, commonly known as Natal Plum, is a versatile evergreen shrub prized for its medicinal and ornamental qualities. Native to Africa, its berries are rich in antioxidants, while its leaves are traditionally used to treat skin ailments and digestive issues. This resilient plant offers both healing and aesthetic beauty.
- Scientific name: Carissa
- Family: Apocynaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianales, it is classified under the family Apocynaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Carissa.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Apocynaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Carissa | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant is known by several names depending on the region, and in Vietnamese, it is commonly referred to as Carissa (bướm đêm).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| vi | Carissa (bướm đêm) | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across the African continent and its surrounding islands. In Northern Africa, its presence is documented within the borders of Egypt. Its distribution extends to the Macaronesian region, specifically found in Cape Verde. Furthermore, the species thrives throughout various parts of West Tropical Africa. This includes specific locations such as Benin, Burkina, and Ghana.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Natal Plum, utilizes its small, edible fruits as a key component in various traditional and modern applications. These fruits, which transition from a green color to a vibrant, deep red when fully ripe, are notable for their high vitamin C content and are often used to create jams, jellies, or juices. In medicinal contexts, the properties of the fruits are sometimes explored for their antioxidant benefits and their ability to support overall health.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Carissa has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include carandinol, carinol, carissanol, carissone, lupeol.
- Total chemicals
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 9
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| carandinol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| carinol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| carissanol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| carissone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lupeol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| naringin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| olivil | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| scopoletin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ursolic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Carissa has 10 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Adaptogenic, Analgesic, Antiarthritic, Anticancer, Anticonvulsant.
- Total activities
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptogenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiarthritic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticonvulsant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antipyretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cardioprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Carissa has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include asthma, cardiac diseases, chest pain, headaches, hepatitis.
- Total uses
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| asthma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cardiac diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chest pain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| headaches | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hepatitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rabies | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatism | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| syphilis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |