Eugenia uniflora (Pitangas), most commonly known as Pitanga cherry shrub, is largely distributed in tropical and subtropical America. But in spite Pitangas is distributed in America, it is not only present there, Pitangas is also cultivated in many other countries, where it is used in the production of juice, frozen pulp, and tea. Pitangas has been traditionally used in some of this countries as a remedy in the treatment of inflammatory diseases [1].

Pitangas is popular in many countries. In Brazil Pitangas is consider a fruity tree with many popular medicine uses, as for example to treat inflammations, rheumatic pain and fever, as hypoglycemic, diuretic and has been widely used in the cosmetics industry [6] as well as many others, but let's see some of these other uses. Image left: Athome@Gaspar by Vitor Pamplona under Creative Commons license (CC BY 2.0).

EUGENIA UNIFLORA

Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eugenia
Common name: Brazil cherry, Brazilian cherry, Pitanga, Pitangas, Cayenne cherry, Surinam cherry [3].

Emblica officinalis is arguably the most important medicinal plant in the Indian traditional system of medicine, the Ayurveda [15]. The fruit also known as Indian gooseberry or Amla, has been an herbal component of Thai traditional recipes believed to slow down the aging process [1] but is also used to treat many ailments such as common cold and fever, as a diuretic, laxative, liver tonic, refrigerant, stomachic, restorative, alterative, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, hair tonic, to prevent peptic ulcer and dyspepsia, and as a digestive [16]. It is also the source of Indian Gooseberry oil and Indian Gooseberry juice. Image: Emblica officinalis by latihamba under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0).

Preclinical studies have shown some Indian gooseberry benefits. Amla possesses antipyretic, analgesic, antitussive, antiatherogenic, adaptogenic, cardioprotective, gastroprotective, antianemia, antihypercholesterolemia, wound healing, antidiarrheal, antiatherosclerotic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and neuroprotective properties [16].

In traditional Indian medicine Ayurveda, the use of Emblica officinalis extends to all parts of the plant including the fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark and flowers are used in various herbal preparations for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, chronic diarrhea, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic [4] anti-tumor, antioxidant and analgesic [7,8,9], but how many of those properties have been scientifically founded on facts? Let's see some of them.

EMBLICA OFFICINALIS

Family: Phyllantaceae
Genus: Emblica
Common name: Indian gooseberry, Amla, Emblic, Emblic myrobalan, Malacca tree.

Physalis minima (Country gooseberry), is a plant from the Solanaceae family that has been used since centuries ago in Ayurvedic Indian traditional medicine, where it is known as Chirpoti, to treat some well known ailments and health problems. The fruit of this plant has a characteristic orange color and is covered by this paper-like leaves.

In spite most of the investigations on this wonderful fruit are focused on its anti-cancer properties, Physalis minima has other important properties, among which we can mention its diuretic, laxative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial [2] and antibacterial properties [3]. Image: Physalis peruviana.

PHYSALIS MINIMA

Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Physalis
Common name: Native gooseberry, Country gooseberry, Wild cape gooseberry and Pygmy ground cherry [1], Physalis parviflora, Physalis pubescens, Chinese latern, حرنكش.

AESCULUS HIPPOCASTANUM (Horse chestnut), this perennial tree of about 20 to 30 meters tall, from which we can find many different species. The flowers of horse chestnut tree are very colorful and as you can see in the picture, they are disposed in very nice clusters. The name Hippocastanum derives from the Latin word for Horse chestnut [1]. WARNING: Horse chestnut is NOT EDIBLE!, see warning at the end of this page.

In spite its popularity in some mediterranean countries, where it is part of traditional recipes, horse chestnut has been proven to exert many health benefits. Scientist and laboratories have investigated some of its active constituents as Aescin, a saponin that has been used to treat venous and microcirculatory problems, proanthocyanidin A-2, effective to lower cholesterol levels...etc. Let's see some of them. Image left: Horse chestnut by Ali T under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0).

AESCULUS HIPPOCASTANUM

Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Aesculus
Common name: Horse chestnut, Conker tree.