 Gen info
- The genus Diospyros consists of over 700 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs. The majority are native to the tropics, with a few species extending into temperate regions.
- Individual species are valued for their hard, heavy, dark wood, commonly referred to as ebony trees; others are valued for their fruit and known as persimmon trees.
- The genus name Diospyros derives from Greek words dios and pyros—literally meaning "Zeus wheat" or generally as "divine fruit" or "divine food."
Botany
Diospyros montana is a small deciduous tree growing up to a height of 15 meters. Bole and older branches are armed with long, hard, stiff, divaricate spines from the stumps of branches.. Bark is smooth, gray or yellowish gray. Branchlets are slender, glabrous. Leaves are simple, alternate, elliptic, lance-shaped, somewhat heart-shaped at the base, and sharp or blunt at the tip; smooth above and velvety underneath. Petioles are 5-10 mm, slender, grooved above, glabrous, Male and female flowers grow on separate trees. Male flowers are are borne in 3-flowered clusters while female flowers occur singly. Flowers are creamy white or greenish-white, tubular with 4 petals which are curved back. Sepals are ovate, velvety. Stamens of the male flower are longer than the flower tube. Fruit is a berry, 1.5-2 cm across, ovoid to obconical, yellow to orange when ripe, with 3-5 rough and black seeds.
 • Dioecious trees, to 10 m high; bark greyish-brown; blaze sulphur yellow; branchlets tomentose; strong often branched thorns scattered over the trunk and larger branches. Leaves simple, alternate, estipulate; petiole 3-7 mm, slender, tomentose; lamina 2.5-8 x 1.5-4 cm, oblong, oblong-lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, base cordate, round, obtuse or subtruncate, apex obtuse or acute, margin entire, softly pubescent on both sides, chartaceous; lateral nerves 4-9 pairs, pinnate, slender, faint, intercostae reticulate, obscure. Flowers unisexual, white; male flowers: 3-flowered axillary racemes; calyx hairy outside; tube 2 mm, lobes 4, 3 mm long, elliptic, obtuse or subacute, pubescent inside, margin ciliate; corolla urceolate, 6 mm, white, slightly pubescent outside; lobes 4, twisted, ovate, acute; stamens 16, 5-7 mm long, in pairs of unequal size which united at base; anthers linear-oblong, not awned, pubescent; female flowers: solitary, pedicellate; bracteoles oblong, hairy, ciliate; calyx deeply lobed, lobes 4, oblong, obtuse; corolla urceolate white; lobes 4, obtuse; staminodes 12 in a single row, lanceolate; filaments long; ovary superior, globose, glabrous; style 4, erect, bifid. Fruit a berry ca. 2 cm across, yellow, fruiting calyx enlarged to 1.5 cm, ovate, cordate, deflexed. (India Biodiversity Portal)
Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- Distributed all along the Western Ghats of India, Sri Lanka, Indo-China through to Australia.
 Constituents
- Phytochemical screening of leaves yielded alkaloids, steroids, saponins, flavonoids, and tannins. (6)
- Study of leaves for secondary metabolites isolated a significant amount of the pentacyclic triterpenes: oleanolic acid and ß-amyrin. (7)
- Study of heartwood and bark yielded diospyrin-3'-methoxydiospyrin, diospyrin-2-(epoxy-3-methyl-butanoate), diospyrin-2'-(2-hydroxypropanoate), sioapyrin-3'-(2-hydroxypropanoate), and tetrahydrodiopyrin. (8)
- Study of leaves isolated five flavonol glycosides (1-5), two naphthalene dimer glycosides (7 and 8), including three
new compounds (1, 2, and 8). (see study below) (12)
- Phytochemical screening of roots yielded carbohyydrates, protein and amino acids, fixed oils and fats, saponins, sterols, alkaloids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins and anthraquinones in different solvent extracts. (20)
- GC-MS analysis of roots yielded about 100 bioactive compounds. Major constituents are 0-octadecenamide (7.88%), (Z)-ß-sitosterol (5.57%), 9-octadecenoic acid (Z)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl) ethyl ester (5.42%), dibutyl phthalate (4.81%), ar-tumerone (3.52%), cyclopentasiloxane decamethyl (3.28%), 6-octade cenoic acid methyl ester (Z) (3.08%), stigmasterol (2.80%), heptadecane, 9-hexyl (2.27%), and cyclohexasiloxane dodecamethyl (2.25%). (20)
Properties
Studies have suggested antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antiproliferative, anti-filarial, mosquitocidal, anxiolytic properties.
Parts used
Bark, leaves, stem-bark, fruits.
 Uses
Edibility
Caution: Fruits are reportedly poisonous.
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use i the Philippines
- In central India, bark used for jaundice, vomiting, and dysentery.
(14)
- In Tamil Nadu, India, leaves used for diabetes; extract of fresh stem bark used for stomachaches. (17)
- In Jharkhad, India, stem bark used for vomiting; root and stem bark used for fever. (18)
- Fruits applied externally to treat boils. (19)
Others
- Fish poison: Crushed leaves and fruits are used to stupefy fish.
- Wood: Wood is durable; moderately hard. There is a wide variation in amount of sapwood and heartwood. When produced, the heartwood can be black with rosy, yellowish, brownish or ashy streaks,; sometimes nearly or totally black, generally sharply demarcated from a thin or wide band of whitish, yellowish, or red sapwood. Texture is fine, smooth, and dense; the grain generally straight.
- Furniture:
While it rarely grows to sufficient size, It is a beautiful furniture wood. The density makes it a difficult wood to work with, but can yield a beautiful surface. Small trees containing little or no sapwood are used locally to make posts, beams, joists, rafters window sills, small implements, scabbards, and canes. (19)
Studies
• Selenium Nanoparticles / Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial / Leaves: : Study reports on an easy plant-mediated synthesis of selenium nanoparticles using an aqueous leaf extract of Diospyros montana. The biosynthesized SeNPs showed potential antioxidant property by DPPH and reducing power assays. The NPs exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against microorganisms such as Gram+ Staphylococcus aureus and Gram- Escherichia coli and fungus Aspergillus niger. On cytotoxicity testing, the NPs showed activity against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) cells, inhibiting cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. (3)
• Silver Nanoparticles Antioxidant / Antibacterial / Stem Bark: Study reports on the eco-friendly biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using stem bark of D. montana. The AgNPs showed antioxidant effect by DPPH and H2O2 assays, which increased with increasing concentration. The AgNPs showed antibacterial activity against both Gram+ (B. subtilis and S. aureus) and Gram- (E. coli and K. aerogenes) strains. (4)
• Diospyrin / Tumor Inhibitory / Stem Bark: Study isolated diospyrin, a tumor inhibitory agent from the stem bark of Diospyros montana, Study reports on a sensitive high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method for the precise estimation of diospyrin. (5)
• Free Radical Scavenging / Heartwood: Study the free radical scavenging activity of methanolic extract of D. montana heartwood using DPPH and reducing power assays. In DPPH method, IC50 was 115.31 µg/ml compared to ascorbic acid standard of 174.7 µg/ml. Significant results were observed in the reducing power method. (9)
• ß-Sitosterol / Detection and Quantitation: ß-sitosterol is a plant sterol present in Diospyros, which is reported to possess anticancer and adaptogenic properties. HPTLC (High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography) was done for detection and quantification of ß-sitosterol in D. montana. Estimated values were 651.99, 467.06, 447.14, and 323.87 µg/ml for leaves, stem bark, roots, and seeds respectively. Leaves were the richest source of ß-sitosterol in D. montana. (10)
• Anti-Filarial Activity / Fruit: Study evaluated the potential anti-filarial activity of petroleum and alcoholic extracts pf D. montana fruits. In vivo study was carried out on both whole worm preparation and nerve muscle preparation of Setaria cervi. The petroleum ether extract produced initial stimulation followed by reversible paralysis in whole worm. The alcoholic extract caused reversible paralysis in whole worm and irreversible paralysis in nerve muscle preparation. (11)
• Phenolic Compounds / Radical Scavenging Activity / Leaves: Study of leaves isolated five flavonol glycosides (1-5), two naphthalene dimer glycosides (7 and 8). Compound 1 showed radical scavenging activity. (12)
• Diospyrin / Anticancer / Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma / Bark/ : Study isolated diospyrin, a bis-naphthoquinone derivative, from a bark extract of D. montana. The compound inhibited the in vivo growth of Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice. (13)
• Diospyrin / Tumor-Inhibitory: Diospyrin and its derivatives have shown significant tumor inhibitory activities against murine tumors in vivo. Studies were done on the effects on mice inoculated with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma after treatment with diospyrin and four synthetic derivatives, measuring hematological status, serum protein and creatinine levels, activities of serum glycolytic enzymes and histopathology. Results showed no noticeable adverse effects on vital parameters suggesting potential for use of diospyrin and derivatives as therapeutic agents. (15)
• Antiproliferative Diospyrin Derivatives: Epoxide: Derivatisation of diospyrin, a bisnaphthquinonoid isolated from Diospyros montana, led to the modification of its inhibitory activity in vitro towards a murine tumor model, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) and to human cancer cell lines viz., malignant skin melanoma (A375) and epidermoid laryngeal carcinoma (Hep2). Among the novel derivatives,an epoxide exhibited the maximum antiproliferative activity (IC50 range of 0.03-0.21 µM) and with comparatively lower toxicity in normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The compound presents as a potential lead compound as an antiproliferative agent against cancer. (16)
• Anxiolytic / Amelioration of Anxiety Via 5-HT2A Pathway / Leaves: Study evaluated the anxiolytic effect of methanolic extract of powder extracted from D. montana leaves, using open-field test (OFT), hole board test (HBT) and elevated plus maze test (EPM) in doses of 50, 100, 200 mg/kg p.o. in experimental rat models. Results showed anxiolytic effects which may involve GABA and serotonin mediated mechanisms. Study suggests potential as a therapeutic agent for management of anxiety. (22)
• Silver Nanoparticles / Mosquitocidal against Dengue Vector Ae. albopictus / Leaves: Study reports on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using D. montana leaf extract and tested their efficacy as larivicide and pupicide against dengue vector Ae. albopictus mosquitoes. Quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, gallocatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, and capsaicin were among the novel reducing and capping agents found in D. montana leaves through LCMS analysis. Synthesized AgNPs showed low LC90 (<90 ppm) for all larval and pupae of Ae. albopictus and negligible mal effect on non-target organisms. Results suggest the leaf extract is an environment-friendly and sustainable sources of effective reducing and capping agents to synthesize high stable and ecologically acceptable AgNPs and their application as mosquitocide. (23)
• Selenium Nanoparticles / Antioxidant / Antibacterial / Anticancer / Bark: Study reports on the green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using D. montana bark extract. On DPPH free radical scavenging assay and reducing power capacity, the SeNPs showed good antioxidant capacity. The NPs showed antibacterial potential with inhibition zones of 48 mm for E. coli, 44.14mm B. subtilis, 36.20mm Klebsiella pneumonia, 34.16mm S. aureus. On antiproliferative testing, the SeNPs showed moderate cytotoxicity to breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) with IC50 of 38.19 µg/ml (Doxorubicin 6.41 µg/mL). suggesting to dose-dependently inhibit cell proliferation. (24)
• Silver Oxide Nanoparticles / Photocatalytic / Antibacterial / Anticancer / Bark: Study reports on the fabrication of silver oxide NPs (Ag2NPs) using methanol bark extract of D. montana. The NPs showed significant anticancer effect against hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2), which is mediated through increased DNA damage, authophagy and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was observed. The NPs showed significant zone of inhibition against E. coli (16.33 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18.56 mm), Bacillus subtilis (22.26 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (18.65 mm) at 40 µg/mL. (25)
• Larvicidal / Ae. albopictus / Leaves: Study evaluated the larvicidal activity of crude extract of D. montana leaves against Ae. albopictus. More than 80% larval mortality was observed after 72 hours of exposure in all instars. After 72 hours exposure, the LC50 caused moderate mortality of 12% and 8% against Chironomus circumdatus and Toxorhychites splendens. The crude extract yielded secondary metabolites, including terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and coumarins. (26)
Availability
Wild-crafted |
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