Eugenia uniflora explained

Eugenia uniflora, the pitanga,[1] Suriname cherry,[2] Brazilian cherry,[1] Cayenne cherry,[3] cerisier carré,[4] monkimonki kersie, ñangapirí,[5] or shimarucu[6] is a flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae, native to tropical South America’s east coast, ranging from Suriname, French Guiana to southern Brazil, as well as Uruguay and parts of Paraguay and Argentina.[4] [7] [8] It is often used in gardens as a hedge or screen. The tree was introduced to Bermuda for ornamental purposes but is now out of control and listed as an invasive species.[9] The tree has also been introduced to Florida.[10]

Description

Eugenia uniflora is a large shrub or small tree with a conical form, growing slowly to high. When bruised, crushed, or cut, the leaves and branches have a spicy resinous fragrance, which can cause respiratory discomfort in susceptible individuals. The leaves are without stipules, ovate, glossy, and held in opposite pairs.[3] New leaves are bronze, copper, or coppery-pinkish in color, maturing to deep glossy green, up to long. During winter, the leaves turn red.

Flowers have four white petals and are borne on long slender stalks, with a conspicuous central cluster of white stamens ending in yellow anthers. Flowers develop into ribbed fruits 2to long, starting as green, then ranging through orange, scarlet, and maroon as they ripen. Because fruit-eating birds distribute the seeds, they can become a weed in suitable tropical and sub-tropical habitats, displacing native flora.[3]

Uses

Culinary uses

The edible fruit is a botanical berry. The taste ranges from sweet to sour, depending on the cultivar and level of ripeness (the darker red to black range is quite sweet, while the green to orange range is strikingly tart). Its predominant food use is as a flavoring and base for jams and jellies.[11] The fruit is high in vitamin C and a source of provitamin A.

The leaves are also used for tea in certain parts of Uruguay.

Use as an insect repellent

The leaves are spread on some house floors in Brazil so that they exude a smell that repels flies when crushed underfoot.

Medical uses

Eugenia uniflora has several significant pharmacological properties.[12] Its essential oil is antihypertensive,[12] [13] antidiabetic,[14] antitumor[15] and analgesic,[16] and it has shown antiviral and antifungal activity.[17] It has performed against microorganisms such as Trichomonas gallinae (in vitro),[18] Trypanosoma cruzi[19] and Leishmania amazonensis.[12] [20]

Gallery

External links

Notes and References

  1. Study of supercritical extraction from Brazilian cherry seeds (Eugenia uniflora L.) with bioactive compounds. Nascimento e Santos, Débora. Lima de Souza, Larissa. Nilson José Ferreira. Lopes de Oliveira, Alessandra. Food and Bioproducts Processing. 365–374. 94. Elsevier. 2015. 10.1016/j.fbp.2014.04.005.
  2. News: Setzer, Kenneth. May 12, 2018. Yes, the Surinam cherry is edible, but that doesn't mean you're going to like it. Miami Herald. January 28, 2019.
  3. Web site: Weeds of Australia: Eugenia uniflora. Queensland Government. January 28, 2019.
  4. Book: Duke's Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America. Duke, James A.. 309. 2009. 9781420043174.
  5. News: A curious crop. The Honolulu Advertiser. February 28, 2007. January 28, 2019.
  6. Book: Proosdij, A.S.J. van . Arnoldo's Zakflora: Wat in het wild groeit en bloeit op Aruba, Bonaire en Curaçao . Walberg Pers . 2012 . 978-9057301629 . Zutphen . nl.
  7. News: Berry Helped to Put Reality Show Chef on Top. The New York Times. Karp, David. February 7, 2007. January 28, 2019.
  8. Book: Morton, Julia. Fruits of warm climates . 9780961018412 . 1987. 386–8. Surinam cherry. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/surinam_cherry.html.
  9. Web site: Bermuda Conservation - Surinam Cherry . 2012-05-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120205192045/http://bermudaconservation.squarespace.com/surinam-cherry/ . 2012-02-05 . dead .
  10. Web site: Surinam Cherry: Only Ripe Need Apply. 24 September 2011. January 28, 2019.
  11. Book: Hargreaves. Dorothy. Hargreaves. Bob. Tropical Trees of Hawaii. registration. 1964. Hargreaves. Kailua, Hawaii. 61. 9780910690027.
  12. Book: Lim, TK. https://books.google.com/books?id=32rWbxUtjeMC&q=eugenia+uniflora&pg=PA623. Edible Medicinal And Non Medicinal Plants . Eugenia Uniflora. 3. Fruits. Springer . 2012. 620–9. 978-9400725348.
  13. Consolini AE, Baldini OA, Amat AG. Pharmacological basis for the empirical use of Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae) as antihypertensive.. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 66. 1. 33–9. 1999. 10432205. 10.1016/s0378-8741(98)00194-9.
  14. Matsumura, T. Kasai, M. Hayashi, T. Arisawa, M. Momose, Y. Arai, I. Amagaya, S. Komatsu, Y. 2000. a-glucosidase Inhibitors From Paraguayan Natural Medicine, Nangapiry, The Leaves Of Eugenia Uniflora. Pharmaceutical Biology. 38. 4. 302–7. 10.1076/1388-0209(200009)3841-AFT302. 21214481. 21363070.
  15. Ogunwande IA, Olawore NO, Ekundayo O, Walker TM, Schmidt JM, Setzer WN. Studies on the essential oils composition, antibacterial and cytotoxicity of Eugenia uniflora L.. International Journal of Aromatherapy. 15. 3. 147–152. 2005. 10.1016/j.ijat.2005.07.004.
  16. Amorim AC, Lima CK, Hovell AM, Miranda AL, Rezende CM. Antinociceptive and hypothermic evaluation of the leaf essential oil and isolated terpenoids from Eugenia uniflora L. (Brazilian Pitanga).. Phytomedicine. 16. 10. 923–8. 2009. 19423309. 10.1016/j.phymed.2009.03.009.
  17. Costa DP, Filho EG, Silva LM. Influence of fruit biotypes on the chemical composition and antifungal activity of the essential oils of Eugenia uniflora leaves.. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society. 21. 5. 851–8. 2010. 10.1590/s0103-50532010000500012. etal. free.
  18. Ibikunle GF, Adebajo AC, Famuyiwa FG, Aladesanmi AJ, Adewunmi CO. In-vitro evaluation of anti-trichomonal activities of Eugenia uniflora leaf.. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 8. 2. 170–6. 2011. 22238499. 3252693.
  19. Santos KK, Matias EF, Tintino SR, Souza CE, Braga MF, Guedes GM, Rolón M, Vega C, de Arias AR, Costa JG, Menezes IR, Coutinho HD. Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi and cytotoxic activities of Eugenia uniflora L.. Exp. Parasitol.. 131. 1. 130–2. 2012. 22426246. 10.1016/j.exppara.2012.02.019. free.
  20. Rodrigues KA, Amorim LV, de Oliveira JM, Dias CN, Moraes DF, Andrade EH, Maia JG, Carneiro SM, Carvalho FA. Eugenia uniflora L. Essential Oil as a Potential Anti-Leishmania Agent: Effects on Leishmania amazonensis and Possible Mechanisms of Action.. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2013. 23533469. 3590759. 10.1155/2013/279726. 2013. 279726. free.

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