Eugenia uniflora, the pitanga,[3]Suriname cherry,[4]Brazilian cherry,[3]Cayenne cherry,[5]cerisier carré,[6]monkimonki kersie or ñangapirí,[7] 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.[6][8][9]
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.[10]
The tree has also been introduced to Florida.[11]
Species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae
†Percentages are roughly approximated using USrecommendations for adults. Source: USDA FoodData Central
Description
Eugenia uniflora is a large shrub or small tree with a conical form, growing slowly to 8 metres (26ft) 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.[5] New leaves are bronze, copper or coppery-pinkish in color, maturing to a deep glossy green, up to 4 centimetres (1.6in) long. During winter the leaves turn red.
Flowers have four white petals and are borne on slender long stalks, with a conspicuous central cluster of white stamens ending in yellow anthers. Flowers develop into ribbed fruits 2 to 4 centimetres (0.79 to 1.57in) long, starting out as green, then ranging through orange, scarlet and maroon as they ripen. Because the seeds are distributed by fruit-eating birds it can become a weed in suitable tropical and sub-tropical habitats, displacing native flora.[5]
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.[12] 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.[citation needed]
Use as an insect repellent
The leaves are spread on some house floors in Brazil, so that when crushed underfoot, they exude a smell which repels flies.[citation needed]
Medical uses
Eugenia uniflora has several significant pharmacological properties.[13] Its essential oil is antihypertensive,[13][14] antidiabetic,[15] antitumor[16] and analgesic,[17] and it has shown antiviral and antifungal activity.[18] It has performed against microorganisms such as Trichomonas gallinae (in vitro),[19]Trypanosoma cruzi[20] and Leishmania amazonensis.[13][21]
It also shows significant anti-inflammatory properties,[13][22] and is used extensively as a folk remedy in South America against stomach diseases.[13][23]
Nascimento e Santos, Débora; Lima de Souza, Larissa; Nilson José Ferreira; Lopes de Oliveira, Alessandra (2015). "Study of supercritical extraction from Brazilian cherry seeds (Eugenia uniflora L.) with bioactive compounds". Food and Bioproducts Processing. Elsevier. 94: 365–374. doi:10.1016/j.fbp.2014.04.005.
Hargreaves, Dorothy; Hargreaves, Bob (1964). Tropical Trees of Hawaii. Kailua, Hawaii: Hargreaves. p.61. ISBN9780910690027.
Lim, TK (2012). "Eugenia Uniflora". Fruits. Edible Medicinal And Non Medicinal Plants. Vol.3. Springer. pp.620–9. ISBN978-9400725348.
Consolini AE, Baldini OA, Amat AG (1999). "Pharmacological basis for the empirical use of Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae) as antihypertensive". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 66 (1): 33–9. doi:10.1016/s0378-8741(98)00194-9. PMID10432205.
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. doi:10.1076/1388-0209(200009)3841-AFT302. PMID21214481. S2CID21363070.
Ogunwande IA, Olawore NO, Ekundayo O, Walker TM, Schmidt JM, Setzer WN (2005). "Studies on the essential oils composition, antibacterial and cytotoxicity of Eugenia uniflora L.". International Journal of Aromatherapy. 15 (3): 147–152. doi:10.1016/j.ijat.2005.07.004.
Amorim AC, Lima CK, Hovell AM, Miranda AL, Rezende CM (2009). "Antinociceptive and hypothermic evaluation of the leaf essential oil and isolated terpenoids from Eugenia uniflora L. (Brazilian Pitanga)". Phytomedicine. 16 (10): 923–8. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2009.03.009. PMID19423309.
Schapoval, E E; Silveira, S M; Miranda, M L; Alice, C B; Henriques, A T (Dec 1994). "Evaluation of some pharmacological activities of Eugenia uniflora L". J Ethnopharmacol. 44 (3): 137–42. doi:10.1016/0378-8741(94)01178-8. PMID7898120.
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