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
|
| Binomial name | |
| Gardenia erubescens Stapf & Hutch.
| |
Description edit
A 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 edit
Commonly occurs in woodland savannas in West African countries of Senegal, Nigeria, and eastwards towards Central Africa.
Chemistry edit
Test 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 edit
In 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.