Muntingia calabura, the sole species in the genus Muntingia, is a flowering plant native to southern Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and western South America south to Peru and Bolivia.[2] Common names include (English) calabur tree, capulin, Jamaica cherry, Panama berry, strawberry tree,[3] Singapore cherry,[citation needed] Sabah cherry,[citation needed] Bajelly tree[citation needed]; (Filipino) aratilis, and saresa; and (Cebuano) mansanitas and Sagase in Kannada.

leaves and fruitsIt is a small tree 712 metres tall with tiered and slightly drooping branches. It has serrated leaves 2.515cm long and 16.5cm wide. The flowers are small, white and slightly malodorous. It gives rise to 11.5cm light red fruit. The fruit is edible, sweet and juicy, and contains a large number of tiny (0.5mm) yellow seeds.It is a pioneer species that thrives in poor soil, able to tolerate acidic and alkaline conditions and drought. Its seeds are dispersed by birds and fruit bats. It is cultivated for its edible fruit, and has become naturalised in some other parts of the tropics, including southeastern Asia. As a pioneer plant, it could help condition the soil and make it habitable to other plants. However, it might also be considered as an invasive species since it might out-compete indigenous plants.Contents 1 Uses 2 Habitat 3 Taste 3.1 Growing 4 Gallery 5 Notes 6 References and external linksUsesIn Mexico, the fruits are eaten and sold in markets. The fruits can be processed into jams and the leaves can be used for making tea. In Brazil, the trees are planted along river banks. The fruits falling from the tree attract fish that are then caught. In the Philippines and Indonesia the fruits are usually eaten mostly by children although they are not sold in the markets. The skin is slightly tough and often discarded by children.In traditional medicine, its leaves can be used as an antiseptic, antipruritic and to treat abdominal cramps.The timber from what is also known as the Jamaican cherry, is reddish-brown. It is compact, durable and lightweight and can be used for carpentry. It could also be used as firewood. The bark can be used to produce ropes and fiber for bark skirts. Due to its ability to grow in poor soil and its effective propagation by means of bats and birds, it could be used for reforestation projects.In India, it is used in urban gardens for its ability to grow fast and attractiveness to small fruit eating birds such as the flowerpeckers. It is also commonly planted in parking lots.Another study claimed that aratilis leaves possess antinociceptive (reducing sensitivity to pain), anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and antipruritic properties, justifying the folkloric medicinal use.HabitatIn the Philippines, the trees are commonly visited by different species of birds. It also attracts bats and nocturnal animals that feasts on the sweet juice of the fruit. This aides for the fast widespread propagation of the muntingia in the Philippine forests which sometimes overpopulate an area in just a couple of years. With just enough sun and water, it grows with little or no care. This is apparent in the island of Maldives where Muntingia, locally known as "Jeymu" grows without any care in very salty sand. The Malaysian common name "Ceri Kampung" means "village cherry". In Malaysia the muntingia tree is found in many urban areas lining the sides of streets in front of rows of houses. There, the muntingia produces great quantities of fruit. People eat the fruits freely and is still left plentiful for everyone, even for the birds, and rarely seen to be sold on the market. Children climb these trees to pick the fruit and fill tubs for themselves and their family to eat. Fruit from Muntingia is also harvested for export overseas. In places where the climate is inhospitable to the Muntingia, the fruit is considered a luxury and sold at a premium.TasteThese cherries are very sweet and taste similar to cotton candy. They also taste like blueberries that are very ripe.GrowingThis is a fast-growing fruit tree, 2 years to be a 3-metre tree. After the flowers are pollinated, there will be lots of the berries growing. Once they ripen, the flowers start to bloom again. After one crop of berries is harvested, the flowers will pollinate back into fruit. The fruit tree will grow for many years.Gallery flower in Hyderabad, India. Common Emigrant Catopsilia pomona on its flower in Hyderabad, India. trunk in Hyderabad, India. leaves & flowers in Hyderabad, India. leaves & flowers in Hyderabad, India. Common Jay Graphium doson on its flower in Hyderabad, India. Muntingia calabura flowerNotes1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 27 December 2014.2. Boning, Charles R. (2006). Florida's Best Fruiting Plants:. Sarasota, Florida: Pineapple Press, Inc. p.111.3. Germplasm Resources Information Network: Muntingia calaburaReferences and external links USDA Plants Profile: Muntingia calabura Aratiles Jamaican Cherry Tree Pacific Island Ecosystems: Muntingia calabura Claude Lvi-Strauss: The use of wild plants in tropical South AmericaCategories: Monotypic Malvales genera Trees of Hispaniola Trees of the Bahamas Trees of Belize Trees of Bolivia Trees of Costa Rica Trees of Cuba Trees of Ecuador Trees of El Salvador Trees of Guatemala Trees of Honduras Trees of Jamaica Trees of Mexico Trees of Nicaragua Trees of Panama Trees of Peru Trees of Trinidad and Tobago https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MuntingiaJuly 14, 2015I had my first taste of the small cherry-like, red Aratilis fruit in grade 4. We were new in Project 8, Quezon City and I was making new friends with the kids in the neighborhood. One of them, Efren, had a big Aratilis tree in front of their house where big humming bees frequented, sucking the nectar of Aratilis flower. It was my first time to see bees and the Aratilis fruit.

The soft red ripe fruit is the size of a small marble and oozed with sweet syrupy sap. We discovered that it was more delicious eaten after being cooled in the fridge or after being soaked in ice. I wonder why no one juiced it or made it into ice cream. Anyway, when I spent vacation in La Loma, Quezon City, I saw more Aratilis trees inside the cemetery where the fruit seemed more glowing red than anywhere.

Later, an Aratilis tree grew up in our backyard. It's like a weed that easily thrives anywhere. Birds love eating the fruit which has some soft tiny seeds in them, and that makes the tree grow up almost everywhere. Thus, I was enjoying plenty of ripe Aratilis fruits in no time--and bees also began lurking in our backyard.

And do you know what health benefits Aratilis carried?

1. Fights bacteria. It has anti-bacterial properties that can be compared to standard antibiotics, according to one study. It also seems to have a stronger polar antibacterial compound.

2. It has flavonone contents.

3. It has anti-inflammatory properties.

4. It has cytotoxic flavonoids for anti-cancer properties, including the leaves and stems.

5. The leaf extract has heart protective properties.

6. The fruit has antioxidants, like flavonoids.

In addition, the Aratilis tree bark can be made into a rope and the trunk provides durable lumber. It's definitely among herbs and plants in the Philippine and Asia that give lots of benefits.

I believe Aratilis has more health benefits than what's already known about it. I specifically refer to the deep red or purple color of the fruit's skin, which probably is rich in powerful antioxidants, even anthocyanin. And why don't they explore the possibilities of making healthy drinks out of Aritilis, even health supplements and dessert recipes? http://philasianherbs.blogspot.com/2014/04/aratilis.htmlAratilesMuntingia calabura Linn.CHERRY TREEScientific namesCommon names

Muntingia calabura Linn.Aratiles (Tag.)

Datiles (Tag., Bik.)

Latires (Tag.)

Ratiles (Tag.)

Seresa (Ilk.)

Zanitas (Ilk., Ibn.)

Cereza (Sp.)

Calabura (Engl.)

Calabur tree (Engl.)

Cherry tree (Engl.)

Panama berry (Engl.)

Silk wood (Engl.)

Other vernacular names

CAMBODIAN: Krakhob barang.

FRENCH: Bois Ramier

INDONESIAN: Kersen.

LAOTIAN: Takhob.

MALAY: Kerukup siam.

PORTUGUESE: Calabura, Po De Seda.

SPANISH: Cacaniqua, Calabura, Calubur, Capuln Blanco, Capulin, Cereza.

THAI: Takhop farang.

VIETNAMESE: Trung ca mat sam.

Botany:Aratiles is a fast growing tree, 5 to 10 meters high, with spreading branches. Leaves are hairy, sticky, alternate, distichous, oblong-ovate to broadly oblong-lanceolate, 8 to 13 centimeters long, with toothed margins, pointed apex and inequilateral base, one side rounded and the other acute. Flowers are about 2 centimeters in diameter, white, extra-axillary, solitary or in pairs. Sepals are 5, green, reflexed, lanceolate, about 1 centimeter long. Petals are white, obovate, 1 centimeter long, deciduous and spreading. Fruit is a berry, rounded, about 1.5 centimeter in diameter, red on ripening, smooth, fleshy, sweet and many seeded.

Distribution- Naturalized, widely distributed, growing in and about towns.- Introduced from tropical America.- Also reported in Thailand and Java. Parts utilizedBark, leaves and flowers.

PropertiesAntispasmodic and emollient.

UsesEdibility- The ripe fruit is very popular among Filipino children.Folkloric- Flowers are antispasmodic. Decoction of flowers for abdominal cramps.- Decoction used as emollient.- Flowers used as antiseptic and to treat spasms.- Also used to relieve colds and headaches.- In the Antiles, used as antispasmodic.- In Martinique, bark decoction is mucilaginous and used as emollient.Others- Bark used for making rope.- Wood is compact, fine-grained, moderately strong and light in weight and durable.- Fast growing tree that makes for a favorable shade tree.

Studies Antibacterial Activity: The study concluded that M. calabura possesses a potential antibacterial property that is comparable to the standard antibiotics used. The study also suggests the presence of a more potent polar antibacterial compound. (1) Antistaphylococcal Activity Study isolated fractions from the methanol extract of MC with anti-staphylococcal activity. Flavanone Constituents: The study isolated a flavanone as well as 24 known compounds, which were mainly flavanones and flavones. Antinociceptive / Anti-inflammatory / Antipyretic: The study concludes that M. calabura leaves possessed antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities, justifying the Peruvian folkloric medicinal use. (3) Cytotoxic Flavonoids / Anticancer: Study isolated 12 new flavonoids were isolated (7 flavans, 3 flavones, two biflavans). Most of the isolates demonstrated cytotoxic activity and some exhibited selective activities when evaluated with a number of human cancer cell lines. (4) Cytotoxic / Leaves and Stems : Study of leaves and stems of Muntingia calabura yielded cytotoxic flavonoids: chrysin, 2',4'-dihydroxychalcone and galangin 3, 7-dimethyl ether. The compounds were active against one or more panels of human and murine cell lines. (5) Cardioprotective: Pretreatment with M calabura leaf extract efficiently protected the myocardium against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. It brought about a significant decrease in cardiac marker enzyme activities probably due reduction in extent of myocardial damage and restriction of leakage of enzymes from the myocardium. (6) Antinociceptive / Opioid Receptor Connect: Aqueous extract of Muntingia calibura showed significant antinociceptive activity against chemically and thermally induced noxious stimuli. The bioactive compounds responsible for the activity work partly through the opioid receptor system. (7) Antioxidant: Study showed high levels of antioxidant activity in the fruit extracts. There was a correlation between antioxidant activity and phenolic flavonoid contents. (8) Anticancer / Antiproliferative / Antoxidant: Study showed M. calabura leaves possess potential antiproliferative and antioxidant activities that could be attributed to high content of phenolic compounds. (10) Hypotensive Effect: Study evaluated the cardiovascular effect of a methanol extract from the leaf of MC. A fractionated water-soluble extract elicited both a transient and delayed hypotensive effect via production of NO (nitric oxide). Activation of NO/sGC/cGMP signaling pathway may mediate the MC-induced hypotension. (11) Antinociceptive / Leaves / Mechanisms: Study on a methanol extract of leaves showed antinociceptive activity involving activation of peripheral and central mechanisms, and partly, via modulation of opioid receptors and NO/cGMP pathway. (12)

AvailabilityWild-crafted.

Last Update October 2013

Photos Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange

OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: File:Muntingia calabura Blanco2.425.png / Flora de Filipinas / 1880 - 1883 / Francisco Manuel Blanco (O.S.A) / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

SOURCES

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings(1) In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Muntingia calabura extracts / Z A Zakaria, C A Fatimah, A M Mat Jais et al / Internation Journal of Pharmacology, 2 (45): 439-442, 2006(2)Activity-guided isolation of the chemical constituents of Muntingia calabura using a quinone reductase induction assay(3)Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of Muntingia calabura aqueous extract in animal models / Z. A. Zakaria et al (4)Plant anticancer agents, XLVIII. New cytotoxic flavonoids from Muntingia calabura roots / Kaneda N, Pezzuto JM et al / (5)Cytotoxic Constituents of Muntingia calabura Leaves and Stems Collected in Thailand / C M Nshimo et al / Summary Pharmaceutical Biology 1993, Vol. 31, No. 1, Pages 77-81 / DOI 10.3109/13880209309082922(6)Effects of Muntingia calabura L. on isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction / Nivethetha M et al / Singapore Med J 2009; 50 (3) : 300(7)The Antinociceptive Action of Aqueous Extract from Muntingia calabura Leaves: The Role of Opioid Receptors / Zainul Amiruddin Zakaria et al / Med Princ Pract 2007;16:130136 / DOI: 10.1159/000098366(8)In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Extracts from Fruits of Muntingia calabura Linn. from India / Preethi K, Vijayalakshmi N, Shamna R, Sasikumar JM / Pharmacognosy Journal, Vol 2, No 14, Oct 2010(9)In vitro antimicrobial activity of Muntingia calabura extracts and fractions / Z A Zakaria, A S Sufian, K Ramasamu et al / African Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 4 (4), pp. 304-308, 18 February, 2010(10)In Vitro Antiproliferative and Antioxidant Activities of the Extracts of Muntingia calabura Leaves / Zakaria ZA, Mohamed AM, Jamil NS, Rofiee MS, Hussain MK, Sulaiman MR, Teh LK, Salleh MZ. / Am J Chin Med. 2011;39(1):183-200(11)Activation of Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway Mediates Hypotensive Effect of Muntingia calabura L. (Tiliaceae) Leaf Extract / Cheng-Dean Shih, Jih-Jung Chen and Hsinn-Hsing Lee / The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, Vol. 34, No. 5, 857872 (12)Antinociceptive Activity of Methanol Extract of Muntingia calabura Leaves and the Mechanisms of Action Involved / M. H. Mohd. Sani, Z. A. Zakaria, and M. Z. Salleh / Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM(13)Muntingia calabura / Common names / AgroForestryTree Database (14)Muntingia calabura / Common names / ZipecodeZoo

Latest Updated Tagalog and English Lists of Philippine Medicinal Plants

Bahay Kubo

The Illustrated Medicinal Plant Song

Alternative Medicine Dictionary

Un-Abbreviated Dialect Sources of Common and Local Names

Plant Names

List of Philippine Medicinal Plants with Chinese Names

HOME SEARCH EMAIL

http://www.stuartxchange.org/Aratiles.html