Plinia cauliflora
Jabuticaba
Plinia cauliflora, commonly known as Jabuticaba, is a distinctive Brazilian fruit tree celebrated for its unique cauliflorous habit, where purple, fleshy fruits grow directly on the trunk. Rich in antioxidants and vitamins, these sweet, grape-like berries are highly valued in gourmet culinary uses and traditional medicinal practices worldwide.
- Scientific name: Plinia cauliflora
- Family: Myrtaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Myrtales and the family Myrtaceae. Ultimately, the medicinal species is identified by its genus, Plinia, and its specific epithet, cauliflora.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Myrtales | WCVP |
| Family | Myrtaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Plinia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Plinia cauliflora, is known by various regional names depending on the language and location. In Southern Min, it is referred to as Chhiū-phû-tô, while in Simplified Chinese, it is called 拟爱神木 and in Traditional Chinese as 擬愛神木. In the Cantonese-speaking regions of Hong Kong and Taiwan, it is commonly known as 嘉寶果.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| nan | Chhiū-phû-tô | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 拟爱神木 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 擬愛神木 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 嘉寶果 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 嘉寶果 | Wikidata |
| pt | Jabuticaba | Wikidata |
| gn | Yvapurũ | Wikidata |
| udm | Джаботикаба | Wikidata |
| fr | Jaboticaba | Wikidata |
| ru | Жаботикаба | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad and diverse geographical distribution across several tropical regions. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is noted around the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Its range extends into Central America, specifically within the borders of Honduras. In Western South America, the species can be found in Bolivia. Finally, within Brazil, it is widely distributed throughout both the Northeast and Southeast regions.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| Central America | Honduras | WCVP |
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Northeast | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Southeast | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil South | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Jabuticaba, possesses several components that are utilized in traditional practices. The glossy, dark green leaves are often studied for their antioxidant properties and potential therapeutic benefits. The seed, found within the pulp, is also noted for its medicinal value due to its high concentration of bioactive compounds. Additionally, the fruit peels are frequently used in various preparations, as they are rich in anthocyanins and other phytochemicals that contribute to the plant's overall medicinal profile.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| seed | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit peels | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Plinia cauliflora has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, gallic acid, tannins.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gallic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Plinia cauliflora has 6 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Chemopreventive, Hypoglycemic.
- Total activities
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chemopreventive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypolipidemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Plinia cauliflora has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include asthma, atherosclerosis, diarrhea, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia.
- Total uses
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 12
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| asthma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| atherosclerosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dyslipidemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperglycemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| labyrinthitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sore throat | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tonsillitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |