Brazil-cherry
Eugenia uniflora
Synonyms: Eugenia costata, Luma dasyblasta, Syzygium michelii, Eugenia myrtifolia, Eugenia willdenowii, Plinia rubra, Stenocalyx oblongifolius, Stenocalyx strigosus, Stenocalyx costatus, Stenocalyx michelii, Stenocalyx brunneus, Stenocalyx michelii var. membranacea, Stenocalyx michelii var. rigida, Eugenia strigosa, Plinia petiolata, Luma arechavaletae, Eugenia michelii, Myrtus willdenowii, Eugenia oblongifolia, Stenocalyx uniflorus, Luma strigosa, Stenocalyx glaber, Stenocalyx rhampiri, Stenocalyx affinis, Stenocalyx impunctatus, Stenocalyx dasyblastus, Plinia pedunculata, Myrtus willdenowii var. portoriccensis, Eugenia dasyblasta, Luma costata, Plinia tetrapetala, Myrtus brasiliana var. lanceolata, Eugenia decidua, Myrtus brasiliana var. lucida, Myrtus brasiliana var. diversifolia, Myrtus brasiliana var. normalis, Eugenia arechavaletae, Stenocalyx lucidus, Eugenia uniflora var. atropurpurea, Myrtus brasiliana, Stenocalyx ruber
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Eugenia uniflora, known as pitanga, Brazil cherry or Surinam cherry, is a large shrub or small tree in the family Myrtaceae with a conical form, growing slowly to about 8 m tall. The opposite, simple leaves are ovate, glossy and held in pairs; new growth emerges bronze, copper or coppery-pink before maturing to deep green, and the foliage often reddens in winter. The fragrant white flowers carry four petals and a prominent central cluster of white stamens with yellow anthers. The diagnostic seven-to-eight-ribbed fruits are 2–4 cm across and ripen from green through orange and scarlet to deep maroon, with a sweet to acid, aromatic, fleshy pulp surrounding one to three seeds. The species is native to tropical South America from Suriname and French Guiana south through Brazil to Uruguay and parts of Paraguay and Argentina, and is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions as a fruit and hedge plant.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
Across its native range in tropical South America, Eugenia uniflora has a long history of use in Brazilian and other Latin American folk medicine. Leaf infusions and decoctions are taken for hypertension, diabetes, fevers, diarrhoea, and rheumatic and inflammatory complaints, and applied externally for skin infections and wounds; the astringent unripe fruit is used for digestive complaints (Lorenzi & Matos, 2002). The leaf essential oil has documented analgesic, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antitumour, antiviral and antifungal activity, including against Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania amazonensis, supporting many of these traditional applications.
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.