Jamaica cherry bark extract shows anti-arthritis potential in lab tests
Medicinal Plants
That scrappy, fast-growing tree with sweet red berries showing up in tropical gardens and along roadsides has bark that may hold real medicinal value, not just folklore.
Researchers took the bark of the Jamaica cherry tree, known for its sweet red berries, and tested it in the lab to see if it could fight inflammation and protect the body's proteins from breaking down, which is part of what happens in arthritis. The extract worked well in test-tube experiments, performing about as well as a standard reference drug. The bark is rich in flavonoids and tannins, plant compounds already known for calming inflammation, which likely explains the effect.
Key Findings
Phytochemical screening found flavonoids, tannins, steroids, saponins, phenolics, and proteins in the hydroalcoholic bark extract.
The extract stabilized red blood cell membranes in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating anti-inflammatory activity.
The extract inhibited protein denaturation in both bovine serum albumin and egg albumin assays, with effects comparable to a standard drug.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Lab tests show that bark extract from the Jamaica cherry tree can calm inflammation and protect proteins from damage in a test tube, hinting at a natural remedy for arthritis-like symptoms.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND EVALUATION OF IN VITRO ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, AND ANTI-ARTHRITIC ACTIVITIES OF MUNTINGIA CALABURA L.
Muntingia calabura L. is traditionally employed in the treatment of inflammatory disorders and joint-related ailments. The present study aimed to conduct phytochemical screening and evaluate the in...
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Muntingia is a genus of plants in the family Muntingiaceae, comprising only one species, Muntingia calabura, named in honour of Abraham Munting. It is native from Mexico south to Bolivia and Argentina. Its fruit is edible, and it has been widely introduced in other tropical areas.