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Useful Tropical Plants

Glycosmis pentaphylla

(Retz.) DC.

Rutaceae

+ Synonyms

Glycosmis arborea (Roxb.) DC.

Glycosmis chylocarpa Wight & Arn.

Glycosmis quinquefolia Griff.

Limonia arborea Roxb.

Limonia pentaphylla Retz.

Myxospermum chylocarpum (Wight & Arn.) M.Roem.

Common Name:

Glycosmis pentaphylla
Ripe fruits and leaves
Photograph by: Fagg, M.
Image credit to Australian National Botanic Gardens
Glycosmis pentaphylla Glycosmis pentaphylla Glycosmis pentaphylla Glycosmis pentaphylla

General Information

Glycosmis pentaphylla is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing up to 5 metres tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild, mainly for local use as a food and medicine. It has gained in popularity as an edible fruit in parts of the Caribbean, where it is sometimes cultivated[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
]. It is also sometimes cultivated as an ornamental in various parts of the tropics[
377
Title
Trade Winds Fruit
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/index.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The on-line catalogue of a company selling seeds. Gives descriptions, photos and uses of a very wide range of fruit and other food-producing plants plus ornamentals.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.

Range

E. Asia - China, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.

Habitat

Hillside and valley woods at elevations of 600 - 1,200 metres in southwest China[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
]. Prefers relatively dry habitats at elevations from sea-level up to 1,000 metres, and is commonly encountered in secondary thickets[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height3.00 m
PollinatorsBees, Insects
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of low to moderate elevations in the tropics. It should be hardy to at least 0°c[
377
Title
Trade Winds Fruit
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/index.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The on-line catalogue of a company selling seeds. Gives descriptions, photos and uses of a very wide range of fruit and other food-producing plants plus ornamentals.
].
Succeeds in full sun to partial shade[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. Prefers a fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained medium that is rich in organic matter[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The plant flowers and fruits all year round[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. Sweet and fleshy[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. The small, translucent pink fruits have a juicy flesh and a sort of spicy, gin-like flavour[
377
Title
Trade Winds Fruit
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/index.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The on-line catalogue of a company selling seeds. Gives descriptions, photos and uses of a very wide range of fruit and other food-producing plants plus ornamentals.
]. The reddish, sub-globose fruit is 8 - 10mm in diameter[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

Medicinal

The plant is often used in traditional medicine, both on its own and as an ingredient of various medicinal mixtures[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. Several alkaloids and amides that have been isolated from the plant are reported to have biological activities[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Glycozolidol, a carbazole alkaloid isolated from the roots, is active against some gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Leaf and stem bark extracts have been shown to have a healing effect upon damaged liver tissue[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Extracts of the root bark have been shown to exhibit significant activity in the treatment of diarrhoea. An ethanol extract was found to be more effective at lower dosages than an aqueous extract[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
A steam distillate of the leaves has shown high antifungal activity against Cladosporium cladosporioides, but no activity against Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

A decoction of the roots is taken to treat bilious attacks. A decoction of roots and leaves is taken for intestinal trouble[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
An infusion of leaves and roots is given after childbirth as a protective medicine[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

The leaves are considered appetitive, stomachic and an infusion of roasted leaves is prescribed for women after delivery as an appetizer[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

In traditional Indian medicine, the plant is used to treat diarrhoea, coughs, rheumatism, anaemia, and jaundice[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Juice of the leaves is used in fever, liver complaints and as a vermifuge[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
A paste of the leaves, mixed with ginger, is applied for eczema and skin affections[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

A decoction of the roots is given for facial inflammation[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Other Uses

Alkaloid extracts of the roots have been shown to inhibit crown gall tumours produced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens in a potato disk bioassay[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. The roots have also been shown to inhibit the growth and survival of larvae of the citrus root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus, when incorporated in their diet[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
A petroleum ether extract of the root has been shown to be lethal to the larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex sitiens, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Leaf extracts have shown a high degree of nematicidal action against the adults and larvae of the nematode Radopholus similis; as well as larvicidal activity against the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus.[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. The bio-active compound responsible for this activity was identified as the quinazolone alkaloid arborine[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

The pale wood is sometimes used for tool handles[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings of half-ripe wood.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Glycosmis+pentaphylla>

Comments

Athira gopal , Basil c poulose , Delna jose , Haritha K.H 12th March 2016 6:37
Respected ADMIN ,
We the students of final year Bpharm was doing the project work regarding 'Glycosmis pentaphylla' are very thankful for you .We obtained some important details related to the same.
Basil c poulose 12th March 2016 6:44
Sir ,
I have an experience to share about the therapeutic importance of 'Glycosmis pentaphylla'. Once i got a ligament damage on my right angle in leg while playing football. On applying a wet extract of the crude drug on my injured part, the inflammation was purely cleared within 3 to 4 days .. It was a wonderful experience to feel the powerful (ANTI INFLAMMATORY) action of the drug..
Thankyou

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