Gardenia erubescens is a shrub or small tree species with edible fruits that occurs in the Guinea and Sudan savannah vegetation of West and Central Africa.[1] It is within the Rubiaceae family.
| Gardenia erubescens | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Genus: | Gardenia |
| Species: | G. erubescens
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| Binomial name | |
| Gardenia erubescens Stapf & Hutch.
| |
Description
editA shrub or small tree, the species grows to 3 meters in height. Leaves are opposite, grows on the end of short branches and grouped in tufts, when dry, the foliage have a purple greyish color on the upper surface which becomes a little duller beneath,[2][1] both sides are glabrous. Stipules are 2–4 mm long, leaf-blade is broadly obovate.[1] Inflorescence; flowers are solitary or in small clusters, calyx is tubular consisting of 6 linear lobes, corolla, also is in a tubular form, consisting of about 6 elliptic lobes. Fruit has an ellipsoid or ovoid shape, it is yellowish in color when ripe, about 3–8 cm long.[1][3]
Distribution
editCommonly occurs in woodland savannas in West African countries of Senegal, Nigeria, and eastwards towards Central Africa.
Chemistry
editTest on plant extracts identified the presence of the compounds beta-sitosterol, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid and a group of methylated flavonoids that includes 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone and triterpenoids.[4][5][6]
Uses
editIn parts of Northern Nigeria, a decoction of the species is used to treat a variety of health issues including gonorrhea, ascites and loss of appetite, extracts are also used as an aphrodisiac and stimulant.[4] Its edible fruit are consumed by locals.
References
edit- ^ a b c d Arbonnier, Michel (2004). Trees, shrubs, and lianas of West African dry zones. Paris: CIRAD. p. 448. ISBN 2-87614-579-0. OCLC 56937881.
- ^ Verdcourt, B. (1979). "Notes on African Gardenia (Rubiaceae)". Kew Bulletin. 34 (2): 345–360. doi:10.2307/4109996. JSTOR 4109996.
- ^ Ouédraogo, Korotimi; Dimobe, Kangbéni; Zerbo, Issouf; Etongo, Daniel; Zare, Alhassane; Thiombiano, Adjima (2019). "Traditional knowledge and cultural importance of Gardenia erubescens Stapf & Hutch. in Sudanian savanna of Burkina Faso". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 15 (1): 28. doi:10.1186/s13002-019-0305-4. ISSN 1746-4269. PMC 6591852. PMID 31234862.
- ^ a b Hussain, M. M.; Sokomba, E. N.; Shok, M. (1991). "Pharmacological Effects of Gardenia erubescens in Mice, Rats and Cats". International Journal of Pharmacognosy. 29 (2): 94–100. doi:10.3109/13880209109082857. ISSN 0925-1618.
- ^ Parmar, V. S.; Sharma, Sunil K.; Poonam (2000). "Novel Constituents of Gardenia Species — A Review". S2CID 91128459.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Adelakun, E. A. (1995). SECONDARY METABOLITES FROM A LOCAL MEDICINAL PLANT - GARDENIA ERUBESCENS. STAPF. AND HUTCH (Thesis thesis). University of Ibadan.