Carissa edulis Vahl
| Botanical Name | Carissa edulis Vahl |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Carissa |
| Species: | C. edulis |
| Common Names: | English Name: Carrisse; Carandas plum Hausa Name: Leemun tsuntsuu, Bagozaki, ciizaaki, Gizaki |
Plant Synonyms
Carissa edulis (Forssk.) Vahl, C. edulis var.
Plant Local Names
simple-spined num-num, climbing num-num, small num-num, (Eng.); enkeldoringnoemnoem, ranknoemnoem, kleinnoemnoem (Afr.); mothokolo (North Sotho); murungulu (Venda), umlugulu (Ndebele), murambara, muraramombe, muruguru, mutsamviringwa, nzambara, esamviringa, umsamviringwa (Shona), morogola (Lovedu)
Plant Habitat
It occurs in bushveld, often in riverine vegetation or on termite mounds,and common in deciduous to evergreen woodland; it is partial to granite soil.
The distribution is from Senegal and East Africa in the north to Mpumalanga and Limpopo in the south. Also in Asia to India and Thailand, and on some Indian Ocean islands.
Plant Material of Interest
Root, bark and fruit
Plant Description
A spiny shrub about 5m high, or dry deciduous and coastal thickets extending across the region from Senegal to West Cameroon and throughout the drier parts of tropical Africa and across Asia to Indonesia. It has been reported as a parasite on Henna plants in North Nigeria.
The bark contains white latex of no recorded property. The fruit, often borne in pairs, are red-black ripening blue black and are sweet and are pleasant to eat. (Burkill, 1985).
Plant Used Parts
Plant Uses
i. Decoction of root and Ararabi (commiphora kerstingii) Hausa bark taken as remedy for leprosy
ii. Decoction of root is used for chest complaints cough remedy
iii. Root scraping are used in the Soudano-Guinean region for glandular inflammation
iv. Fruits (berries) are eaten to expel intestinal worms.
v. Root bark and spices used as enema for lumbago.
vi. A piece of root placed on top of huts claimed to be effective as snake repellent. (Medicinal plants of Nigeria, 2006).
Plant Therapeutic Action
Plant Precaution for Use
Plant Adverse Effect
Plant Contraindication
Plant Dosage Forms
Plant Dosage
Plant Storage
Plant Chromatographic Fingerprint
Plant Constituents
Methyl salicylate, carissone, carissin. (Medicinal plants of Nigeria, 2006)
Plant Pictures
Plant References
Najma Dharani. 2002. Field guide to common trees and shrubs of East Africa . Struik, Cape Town.
Van Wyk, Braam [A.E.] & Van Wyk, P..1997. Field guide to trees of southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town.
Van Wyk, Braam [A.E.] & Van Wyk, P.. 2007. How to identity trees in southern Africa . Struik, Cape Town.
Venter, S. & Venter, J. 2007. Making the most of indigenous trees . Briza Publications, Pretoria.
Raimondo, D., Von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. & Manyama, P.A. (eds) 2009. Red List of South African plants 2009 . Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.