Muntingia calabura
Jamaican cherry
Muntigia calabura, commonly known as Jamaican cherry or Kerson fruit, is a versatile tropical shrub prized for its medicinal properties. Rich in antioxidants and vitamins, its leaves, bark, and fruits are traditionally used to treat inflammation, fever, and digestive issues, offering significant therapeutic potential in holistic wellness practices.
- Scientific name: Muntingia calabura
- Family: Muntingiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malvales, it is classified under the family Muntingiaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Muntigiia and the specific species Muntigia calabura.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Muntingiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Muntingia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, scientifically known as Muntingia calabura, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Spanish, it is simply referred to as Muntingiä, while in Japanese, it is known as ナンヨウザクラ (Nanyozakura). In Javanese, the plant is called Kèrsen, whereas in Malayalam, it is commonly identified as ജമൈക്കൻ ചെറി (Jamaikkan Cheri). Additionally, in Malay, it is known by the name Kerukup Siam.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| es | Muntingia | Wikidata |
| ja | ナンヨウザクラ | Wikidata |
| jv | Kèrsen | Wikidata |
| ml | ജമൈക്കൻ ചെറി | Wikidata |
| ms | Kerukup Siam | Wikidata |
| ru | Мунтингия | Wikidata |
| su | Kérsen | Wikidata |
| th | ตะขบฝรั่ง | Wikidata |
| tl | Ratiles | Wikidata |
| vi | Trứng cá | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across the globe. In East Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the countries of Kenya and Tanzania. Its presence extends into the Arabian Peninsula, specifically documented in Oman. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, the species is well-established in both Bangladesh and India. This wide range demonstrates the adaptability of the species across diverse tropical environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| Arabian Peninsula | Oman | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Maldives | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Andaman Is. | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Aratiles or Jamaican cherry, utilizes various components for its traditional medicinal purposes. The roots are often employed in folk medicine to treat specific ailments, sometimes being prepared as a decoction to address internal issues. Additionally, the leaves serve as a vital part of the plant's therapeutic profile, frequently used in poultices or infusions to help alleviate inflammation and other minor health concerns.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Muntingia calabura has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 7-Hydroxyflavone, NO, flavonoid, flavonoids, nitric oxide.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 7-Hydroxyflavone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| NO | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nitric oxide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phytosterols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sugars | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triterpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Muntingia calabura has 5 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antinociceptive, Antiulcer, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antinociceptive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiulcer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Muntingia calabura has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Diabetes mellitus, cold, headache, hyperglycemia, inflammation.
- Total uses
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cold | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| headache | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperglycemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |