Gardenia erubescens
Scientific classification Edit this 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.

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.

Description

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

Commonly occurs in woodland savannas in West African countries of Senegal, Nigeria, and eastwards towards Central Africa.

Chemistry

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

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

  1. 1 2 3 4 Arbonnier, Michel (2004). Trees, shrubs, and lianas of West African dry zones. Paris: CIRAD. p. 448. ISBN 2-87614-579-0. OCLC 56937881.
  2. ↑ Verdcourt, B. (1979). "Notes on African Gardenia (Rubiaceae)". Kew Bulletin. 34 (2): 345–360. doi:10.2307/4109996. JSTOR 4109996.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. 1 2 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.
  5. ↑ Parmar, V. S.; Sharma, Sunil K.; Poonam (2000). "Novel Constituents of Gardenia Species — A Review". S2CID 91128459. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ↑ Adelakun, E. A. (1995). SECONDARY METABOLITES FROM A LOCAL MEDICINAL PLANT - GARDENIA ERUBESCENS. STAPF. AND HUTCH (Thesis thesis). University of Ibadan.
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