KJC Medicinal Garden

Nerale
Syzygium cumini


Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Syzygium
Species: Syzygium cumini
Common Names: Black Plum, Java Plum
Native to Indian subcontinent, naturalized in America, Africa and Australia

Other plants of the same genus with medicinal properties

    S. aromaticum
    S. aqueum
    S. australe
    S. curanii
    S. corynanthum
    S. densiflorum
    S. diffusum
    S. forte
    S. francisii
    S. erythrocalyx
Morphology:
  • The plant height may reach 30 m, and is 11 m broad.
  • Bark is rough and cracked, trunk diameter is 0.6 – 0.9 m
  • Leaves have a turpentine smell, pinkish in youth and yellowish when matured.
  • Flowers are fragrant, white and first and then become rose pink.
  • Fruits appear in clusters of 10-40 round and curved which turn to dark-purple on maturation.
  • The pulp is white or purple and very juicy

Uses in Tradition systems of medicine

  • It is used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for treatment of Diabetes mellitus.
  • In Unani medicine it is used to enrich blood, strengthen teeth and gums.
  • The black plum relieves stomach pain, carminative, anti-scorbutic and diuretic.
  • Black plum vinegar reduces enlargement of spleen, diarrhoea.
  • It is the medium of purifying blood and hence good for the skin and beauty.
  • It also enhances the immune system.
Nutritional Properties
  • It is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C
  • Minerals – Iron
  • Protein – 0.70-0.13 g, 14.00 – carbohydrate, 8.30-15.00 g calcium, 15.00 – 16.20 g phosphorous, 0.15-0.30 g fat, 1.20-1.62 mg Iron, 90 I.U. vitamin A.

Suggested Medicinal Properties

  • Anticancer
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Cardioprotective
  • Hepatoprotective
  • Antidiabetic
  • Antioxidant
  • Anti-diarrhoeal
  • Anti-microbial
  • Antihistamine
  • Anti-fertility
  • Gastroprotective

Active Phytochemicals

1. Stem Bark contains ß-sitosterol-D-glucoside, Kamepferol-3-0- glucoside, quercetin, myricetin, astragalin, and gallic acid.

2. Fruit contains Malic acid and small quantity of oxalic acid. Cyanidine and Diglycoside imparts the purple color.
3. Seed consists of glucoside jamboline, a new phenolic substance
4. Leaves have essential oil such as terpenes, 1-limonene and dipentene
5. Flowers contain Kaempferol, quercetin, isoquercetin.
6. Roots contain myricetin 3-o-ribinoside
7. Fruits are rich of raffinose, glucose, fructose, citric acid, and mallic acid
8. Isoquercetin (quercetin-3-glucoside)
9. Isorhamnetin 3-O-rutinoside
10. Myricetin-3-L-arabinoside
11. Malvidin-3-glucoside
12. Petunidin-3-glucoside
13. They also contain alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, phenols, and tannis

References

Bijauliya RK, Alok S, Sabharwal M and Chanchal DK: “Syzygium cumini (Linn.) - An overview on morphology, cultivation, traditional uses and pharmacology.” Int J Pharm Sci & Res 2018; 9(9): 3608-20. doi: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.9(9).3608-20

“Morphology, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Syzygium Cumini (Linn.) – An Overview | International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences And Research,” May 31, 2017. https://ijpsr.com/bft-article/morphology-pytochemistry-and-pharmacology-of-syzygium-cumini-linn-an-overview/