NAME: Carissa edulis
FAMILY: Apocynaeae Bagozaki
COMMON NAMES: climbing num-num, simple-spined num-num
LOCAL NAMES: Arabian numnum, agam, simple-spined num-num
MORPHORLOGICAL DESCRIPTION:
Carissa edulis is a fast-growing spin evergreen shrub with glossy foliage scrambling up to 6 m tall. It produces flowers with white color tinged pink to purple.
USEFUL PART(s): Roots, fruits
GENERAL USES:
Fruit can be fermented to make a refreshing pink wine or left longer to make vinegar
In Kenya, root is used as snake repellant
Plant suitable for planting as a protective hedge
Contain carissin that can be used to treat cancer.
Root is used in stew and soup
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION:
Kenya, South Africa, India, Thailand, Nigeria
WHY IS IT GREEN?
Expectorant
Abortifacient
Herpes simplex virus.
Venereal diseases
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Can serve as ornamental plant
FUN FACT
It is drought resistant.
FURTHER READINGS
Achenbach, H., Waibel, R., & Addae-Mensah, I. (1983). Lignans and other constituents from Carissa edulis. Phytochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)86976-9
Al-Youssef, H. M., & Hassan, W. H. B. (2017). Chemical constituents of Carissa edulis Vahl. Arabian Journal of Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2014.01.004
Fanta Yadang, S. A., Taiwe Sotoing, G., Ngatcha Zouakeu, K. S., Khan, M. A., Agbor, G. A., Ur-Rahman, N., & Ngo Bum, E. (2019). Quantification of Bioactive Compounds and Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Carissa edulis Valh (Apocynaceae) Leaves. Scientific World Journal. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/7549620
Kebenei, J. S., Ndalut, P. K., & Sabah, A. O. (2011). Anti-plasmodial activity of nortrachelogenin from the root bark of Carissa edulis (vahl). International Journal of Applied Research in Natural Products.
Okullo, J. B. L., Omujal, F., Bigirimana, C., Isubikalu, P., Malinga, M., Bizuru, E., & Namutebi, A. (2014). Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies Ethno-Medicinal Uses of Selected Indigenous Fruit Trees from the Lake Victoria Basin Districts in Uganda. Journal of Medicinal Studies.
Ya’u, J., Yaro, A. H., Abubakar, M. S., Anuka, J. A., & Hussaini, I. M. (2008). Anticonvulsant activity of Carissa edulis (Vahl) (Apocynaceae) root bark extract. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2008.08.029