Brunfelsia uniflora

Brunfelsia uniflora.jpg

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