Jabuticaba

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Brazilian grapetree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Eugenia cauliflora
• Eugenia jaboticaba
• Myrciaria cauliflora
• Myrcia jaboticaba
• Plinia jaboticaba
• Myrciaria jaboticaba
• Myrciaria peruviana
• Myrtus cauliflora
• Myrtus jaboticaba
• Guapurium peruvianum
• Plinia peruviana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Plinia cauliflora is characterized by its occurrence within the Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial), where it thrives in high-moisture environments typical of rainforest ecosystems. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying diverse ecological niches across a significant vertical gradient. Its elevational range extends from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 1350 m AMSL, allowing it to adapt to varying temperature and pressure regimes across different topographical layers of the tropical forest.

Elevational range max:

1350 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Plinia cauliflora is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, ensuring long-term persistence within its ecological niche across multiple years. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive shoots and buds are elevated well above the ground level, protected by a robust structural framework. This species maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage throughout the year and providing a continuous canopy that supports its metabolic processes. Throughout its extended lifespan, the plant demonstrates the structural stability typical of phanerophytes, relying on its perennial growth habit to navigate seasonal changes and maintain its physiological presence in the environment.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Plinia cauliflora is characterized by a woody growth form that manifests primarily as a tree, though it can also exhibit shrub-like qualities. This species is a self-supporting, terrestrial plant that functions independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, it reaches a mean plant height of approximately 9.5 m, though it has the capacity to attain a maximum height of up to 18 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

9.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Plinia cauliflora is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its environmental niche. In terms of its structural composition, the plant exhibits a highly consistent stem specific density (SSD), with a recorded mean, minimum, and maximum value of 980 mg/cm³. This uniformity in SSD suggests a stable wood density profile across its developmental stages. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen availability rather than symbiotic diazotrophic processes to meet its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) min:

980 mg/cm³

Reproduction

Reproduction in Plinia cauliflora occurs primarily through the production of fleshy fruits that contain a single, well-developed seed, which serves as the primary unit for sexual propagation. The development of the seed is characterized by a highly consistent morphology, showing no variance in size within the observed parameters. Specifically, the seed volume is precisely measured at a constant 270 mm³, with a minimum, maximum, and mean value all reaching exactly 270 mm³. This uniformity in seed volume suggests a stable reproductive output regarding the individual seed dimensions. Following successful fertilization and fruit maturation, these seeds can be collected for germination, although commercial cultivation often supplements this natural process with grafting to ensure genetic consistency and faster maturation.

Seed volume max:

270 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Plinia cauliflora has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, seed.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products
2. Natural product research
3. Chemistry & biodiversity

Fruit

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Seed

1. Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis

Chemicals

Plinia cauliflora has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, CALCIUM, FAT, Flavonoid, Flavonoids.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoid

1. Natural product research

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gallic acid

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

PHOSPHORUS

1. Dr. Duke

Pedunculagin

1. Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis

Tannins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Plinia cauliflora has 207 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Chemopreventive, Hypoglycemic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
3. Natural product research
4. Chemistry & biodiversity

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chemopreventive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypolipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Plinia cauliflora has 12 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include asthma, atherosclerosis, diarrhea, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia.

Asthma

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Atherosclerosis

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Diarrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dyslipidemia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hyperglycemia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Inflammation

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Labyrinthitis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Oxidative stress

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sore throat

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tonsillitis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Plinia cauliflora has 3 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include jabuticaba seed extract, leaves, preparation obtained from the fruit peels of P. cauliflora (EEPC).

Jabuticaba seed extract

1. Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis

Leaves

1. Journal of natural products

Preparation obtained from the fruit peels of p. cauliflora (eepc)

1. Frontiers in pharmacology