Carissa edulis

PlantZAfrica

PlantZAfrica

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