NAME: Brunfelsia uniflora
FAMILY: Solanaceae
COMMON NAMES: Manacá
LOCAL NAMES:
USEFUL PART(s): Roots
GENERAL USES:
Oil derived from the flower is use in making perfume
The plant is also used for its medicinal value
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Brazil
Bolivia
Peru
Ecuador
Colombia
Venezuela
WHY IS IT GREEN?
Brunfelsia uniflora medicinal values include
Aphorodisiacs
Abortifacient
antirheumatic
anaesthetic,
blood cleanser
diaphoretic
diuretic
emetic
emmenagogue
laxative
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
· Ornamental value
FUN FACT
Brunfelsia uniflora is a moderate-sized, evergreen woody or small tree with scattered branches; it normally grows 0.5 - 3 metres high, but at times growing up to 8 metres
The whole plant contains a very toxic alkaloid known as manacine; extract from the root is used as part of arrows poison.
FURTHER READINGS
Graham, J., & Janovec, J. (2016). A remarkable new species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae) from the eastern Andes of Central Peru. PhytoKeys, 75, 81–91. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.75.10759
Jorge, L. F., Meniqueti, A. B., Silva, R. F., Santos, K. A., Da Silva, E. A., Gonçalves, J. E., … Linde, G. A. (2017). Antioxidant activity and chemical composition of oleoresin from leaves and flowers of brunfelsia uniflora. Genetics and Molecular Research, 16(3). https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr16039714
Thiesen, L. C. T., Sugauara, E. Y. Y., Tešević, V., Glamočlija, J., Soković, M., Gonçalves, J. E., … Colauto, N. B. (2017). Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of Brunfelsia uniflora flower oleoresin extracted by supercritical carbon dioxide. Genetics and Molecular Research, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr16029548