Brindal Berry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Brindal Berry
• Cowa Fruit
• Cowa Moangosteen
• cowa

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Stalagmitis cowa

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Malpighiales and placed in the family Clusiaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Garcinia, which includes the species Garcinia cowa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several key regions within the Indian Subcontinent. It can be found growing in the specific areas of Assam, Bangladesh, and the East Himalaya. Furthermore, its presence is well-documented throughout various parts of India. Beyond the subcontinent, the species also extends its range into South-Central China. These diverse locations highlight the plant's significant geographical footprint in Southern Asia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Garcinia cowa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its ecosystem through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated stems or branches, a growth form that defines its structural presence in its natural habitat. This species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year, providing continuous canopy cover and metabolic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Garcinia cowa is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that is entirely terrestrial in nature. This plant is an independent species, not functioning as a parasite or an epiphyte, and is capable of being self-supporting without the need for climbing structures such as lianas or vines. In terms of its physical stature, it exhibits significant vertical development, reaching an average plant height of approximately 10 m, with a maximum potential height of up to 30 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Garcinia cowa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's leaf morphology features an elliptic form with entire margins, notably lacking both leaf thorns and leaf spines. From a structural efficiency standpoint, the specific leaf area (SLA) demonstrates significant variability; the values range from a minimum of 128.0417364 cm²/g to a maximum of 181.1565016 cm²/g, resulting in a mean SLA of 152.289094975 cm²/g. Additionally, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability for its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) max:

181.1565016 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

152.289094975 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

128.0417364 cm²/g

Reproduction

Reproduction in Garcinia cowa is characterized by the development of distinct fleshy fruits that play a crucial role in the plant's life cycle. The fruit exhibits a specific textural quality described as being both fleshy and dry in different contexts of its maturation. Within these fruits, the seeds serve as the primary reproductive units, displaying a measurable range in size. The seed volume varies from a minimum of 3100 mm³ to a maximum of 3300 mm³, resulting in an average seed volume of 3200 mm³. This consistency in seed dimensions and the fleshy nature of the fruit are key factors in the successful dispersal and subsequent germination of the species.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed volume max:

3300 mm³

Seed volume mean:

3200 mm³

Seed volume min:

3100 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Garcinia cowa has 4 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, stem, root.

Leaf

1. Heliyon
2. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)
3. Pharmacognosy research

Fruit

1. Pharmacognosy research
2. Annals of medicine

Stem

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Die Pharmazie

Root

1. Pharmacognosy research

Chemicals

Garcinia cowa has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Rubraxanthone, Xanthochymol, cowanin, cowanol, cowaxanthone.

Rubraxanthone

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
2. Pharmacognosy research

Xanthochymol

1. Journal of AOAC International
2. Annals of medicine

cowanin

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
2. Planta medica

cowanol

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
2. Planta medica

cowaxanthone

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
2. Planta medica

norcowanin

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
2. Planta medica

1,3,5-trihydroxy-6-methoxyxanthone

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

1,3,6,7-Tetrahydroxyxanthone

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

1,5,6-trihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyxanthone

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

1,5,6-trihydroxy-3-methoxy-4-(3-hydroxyl-3-methylbutyl)xanthone

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Activities

Garcinia cowa has 6 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antiparasitic, Antiproliferative, Antiviral.

Antidiabetic

1. Heliyon

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Antiparasitic

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Antiproliferative

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Antiviral

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Expectorant

1. Pharmacognosy research

Conditions

Garcinia cowa has 12 reported investigations on conditions identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, Leishmaniasis, Plasmodium falciparum, antipyretic agent, breast cancer.

Cancer

1. Biomolecules
2. Journal of natural products

Leishmaniasis

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Planta medica

Antipyretic agent

1. Pharmacognosy research

Breast cancer

1. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)

Expectorant

1. Pharmacognosy research

Gastric ulcer

1. Annals of medicine

Gastric ulcers

1. Annals of medicine

Gastrointestinal diseases

1. Annals of medicine

Indigestion

1. Pharmacognosy research

Preparations

Garcinia cowa has 11 reported preparations identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include bark, chamuangone-enriched extract (CEE), chromatographically standardized fruit extract, ethanol extract, fruit.

Bark

1. Pharmacognosy research
2. Planta medica

Chamuangone-enriched extract (cee)

1. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)

Chromatographically standardized fruit extract

1. Annals of medicine

Ethanol extract

1. Die Pharmazie

Fruit

1. Pharmacognosy research

Latex

1. Pharmacognosy research

Leaf extract

1. Heliyon

Leaves

1. Pharmacognosy research

Methanolic extract

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Root

1. Pharmacognosy research