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Botany:
A fast growing tree to a height of 5-10 meters,
with spreading branches. Leaves are hairy, sticky, alternate,
distichous, oblong-ovate to broadly oblong-lanceolate, 8 to 12
cm long, with toothed margins, pointed apex and inequilateral
base, one side rounded and the other acute. Flowers are 2 cm
in diameter, white, extra-axillary, solitary or in pairs. Sepals
are 5, green, reflexed, lanceolate, about 1 cm long. Petals are
white, obovate, i cm long and spreading. The berry fruitis rounded,
about 1.5 cm diameter, red on ripening, smooth, fleshy, sweet
and many seeded.
Distribution
Naturalized, widely distributed.
Parts utilized
Bark, leaves and flowers.
Properties
Antispasmodic and emollient.
Uses
Folkloric
Decoction of flowers for abdominal
cramps.
Decoction used as emollient.
Flowers used as antiseptic and to treat spasms.
Also used to relieve colds and headaches.
Others
Bark used for making rope.
Wood is compact, fine-grained, moderately strong and light in weight
and durable.
Studies
• In
vitro Antibacterial Activity of Muntingia calabura extracts:
The study concluded that M. calabura possesses a potential antibacterial
property that is comparable to the standard antibiotics used. The study
also suggests the presence of a more potent polar antibacterial compound.
• Activity-guided isolation
of the chemical constituents of Muntingia calabura using a quinone reductase
induction assay: The study
isolated a flavanone as well as 24 known compounds, which were mainly
flavanones and flavones.
• Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory
and antipyretic effects of Muntingia calabura aqueous extract in animal
model: The study concludes that M. calabura leaves possessed
antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities, justifying
the Peruvian folkloric medicinal use.
• Plant anticancer agents, XLVIII.
New cytotoxic flavonoids from Muntingia calabura roots:
12 new flavonoids were isolated (7 flavans, 3 flavones, two biflavans).
Most of the isolates demonstrated cytotoxic activity and some exhibited
selective activities when evaluated with a number of human cancer cell
lines.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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