Eugenia involucrata
Eugenia involucrata, commonly known as the Surinam cherry, is a tropical evergreen shrub prized for its edible, flavorful fruits. Beyond its culinary appeal, this plant holds significant ethnobotanical importance. Its leaves and bark are frequently utilized in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, showcasing its diverse therapeutic potential.
- Scientific name: Eugenia involucrata
- Family: Myrtaceae
- Native range: Southern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Eugenia involucrata, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Myrtales and the family Myrtaceae. It is further categorized under the genus Eugenia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Myrtales | WCVP |
| Family | Myrtaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Eugenia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Eugenia involucrata, is referred to by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Portuguese, it is called Cereja-do-rio-grande, while in Malayalam, it is known as ചെറുഞാറ. Its name in Chinese is 長果巴西櫻桃, and in Spanish, it is identified by the botanical synonyms Phyllocalyx involucratus and Phyllocalyx laevigatus.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pt | Cereja-do-rio-grande | Wikidata |
| ml | ചെറുഞാറ | Wikidata |
| zh | 長果巴西櫻桃 | Wikidata |
| es | Phyllocalyx involucratus | Wikidata |
| es | Phyllocalyx laevigatus | Wikidata |
| es | Cerella | Wikidata |
| es | Cerejeira | Wikidata |
| es | Eugenia aemilii | Wikidata |
| es | Eugenia bracteata | Wikidata |
| es | Eugenia involucrata var. minutifolia | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical presence across several distinct regions of South America. Its distribution is notably extensive within Brazil, where it can be found in the West-Central, Northeast, Southeast, and South regions. Beyond the borders of Brazil, the species also inhabits the territory of Bolivia. These various locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive across diverse environmental zones in Western South America. Consequently, its range spans a significant portion of the continent's tropical and subtropical landscapes.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil West-Central | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Northeast | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Southeast | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil South | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Argentina Northeast | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Paraguay | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Uruguay | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Eugenia involucrata, possesses various components that are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The leaf is often a primary focus in traditional applications, frequently used in decoctions or infusions due to its specific phytochemical profile. Additionally, the bark of the plant is also significant, often harvested for its medicinal qualities to treat various ailments.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Eugenia involucrata has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ellagic acid, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, flavonoids, gallic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ellagic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epicatechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epicatechin gallate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gallic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| myricitrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| proanthocyanidins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triterpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Eugenia involucrata has 5 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antigenotoxic, Cytoprotective, Cytotoxic, Genoprotective.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antigenotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Genoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |