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.

Scutellaria lateriflora (Blue skullcap), is a perennial herb indigenous from North America. The flowers are very small and have a very distinctive pale blue color. Blue skullcap is known in Europe and America for some of its properties, among which the most commonly known is its nervous sedative effects.

Other document uses of Blue skullcap includes its use for the treatment of kidney or urinary system disorders [4]. The Native Americans and Europeans used it also as a nerve tonic, sedative, and anti-convulsant [6]. Image: Hairy skullcap by Kerry Wixted under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0).

SCUTELLARIA LATERIFLORA 

Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Scutellaria
Common name: Mag dog skullcap, skullcap, Madweed [4].

Oenothera biennis (Evening primrose) is a plant native to North America that blooms in early summer, between June and September.

Its name, Primerose originates from the Latin and means first flower [1]. The other part of the name, Evening, refers to one of the characteristics of its flowers, they bloom only in the evening, within a matter of a few minutes, and close back again at the beginning of next day (see video at the end of this article). This plant is native to North America and blooms in early summer, between June and September. Image: Evening primerose by J Brew under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

OENOTHERA BIENNIS

Family: Onagraceae

Genus: Oenothera

Common names: Evening primrose.