Barbados cherry

Overview

This plant is native to the Lesser Antilles and from Northern South America to Southern Texas in the United States. It has been introduced into other parts of the tropics and subtropics. In South-East Asia, it is only sporadically grown. It is also grown as ornaments and for edible fruit.

Vernacular Names

Cerise-antillaise (French), Choeri (Thailand), So'ri (Vietnamese), Xi yin du ying tao (Chinese), Geribde kers (Dutch)

Agroecology

It can be grown almost anywhere in the tropics and warm subtropics. It grows and produces well when rainfall is between 1,200 and 1,600 mm per year. Irrigation is required in areas with little rainfall. Young plants are killed by frost, but mature trees survive brief exposure to -2 °C. The plants tolerate long periods of drought and do not stand waterlogging. The soil should preferably be rich, deep, and well-drained, with a pH above 5.5. On calcareous soils the plants require additional micronutrients, on acid soils, addition of lime is required.

Morphology

• Stem - erect to spreading, slightly rough, grey-brown in colour.
• Leaves - opposite, ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, ranging from 2.5 to 9.0 cm in length and 1.2 to 6.0 cm in width, entire or undulating, dark green and glossy above, petiole short.
• Inflorescences - sessile or short-peduncled axillary cymes with 3-5 flowers.
• Flowers - bisexual,  1-2 cm in diameter, pinkish to reddish, calyx with 6-10 large sessile glands.
• Fruits - a bright-red, juicy drupe, depressed-ovoid, 1-3 cm in diameter and weighing 3-5 g, usually in pairs or threes, obscurely 3-lobed, skin thin, flesh soft, orange, acid to subacid.
• Seeds - 3, triangular, ridged, globose, up to 2.5 cm in diameter.

Cultivation

It can be propagated by seeds and cutting.

Chemical Constituents

Vitamin C, carotenoids phenolics (ß-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin, lutein and violaxanthin), anthocyanin (cyanidine 3-O-rhamnoside and pelargonidin 3-O- rhamnoside), hydroxycinnamoyl derivatives (caffeoyl hexoside, dihydrocaffeoylquinic acid, and coumaroyl hexoside), niacinamides, bioflavonoids, phenolic, melatonin, tannin, catechins, cardiac glycosides, lactones, steroid, depsides, depsidonas, saponin, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, (−)-epigallocatechin gallate, (−)-epicatechin, procyanidin B1, rutin, and kaempferol

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• Studies have shown antitumor, radioprotective, skin whitening, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, anticarcinogenic, antihyperlipidemic, and insecticidal properties.
• Fruit is commonly used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, herpes, liver ailments, diarrhea, dysentery, coughs, and colds.
• Fresh fruit is a nutritive aid for managing anemia, tuberculosis, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, rheumatism, and during convalescence.
• Plant juice is used as a gargle for sore throat.