Pharmacognostic Insights into Muntingia calabura with Emphasis on its Micromorphology, Phytochemistry, Traditional and Pharmacological Uses

Muntingia calabura (Jamaican cherry) is a fast-growing tropical tree which is medicinal in multiple cultures. Overall pharmacognostic features of the plant including calcium oxalate crystals, anisocytic stomata and characteristic trichomes are reported in this review. The claimed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antibacterial, anticancer and hepatoprotective roles of the plant are ascribed to the presence of high level of bioactive compounds through flavonoids such as quercetin and rutin, phenolics, saponins and tannins. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have also confirmed these pharmacological effects. Particle microscopy and physicochemical studies serve to verify the identification and quality control of this raw material. Although efficacy data in humans are scant, animal studies demonstrate a wide margin of safety. We are encouraged with the potential of M. calabura as herbal drugs because it has a wide traditional medicinal use and pharmacological activities. Its clinical uses need to be confirmed and expanded by further standardization, chemical isolation, mechanism analysis, and clinical trials.