Synepalum dulcificum
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Synsepalum dulcificum Common Names: Miracle fruit, Miracle berry, Sweet
berry Scientific
Classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Asterids Order: Ericales Family: Sapotaceae Genus: Synsepalum Species: S. dulcificum Synonyms: Bakeriella dulcifica (Schumach. & Thonn.) Dubard, Bumelia dulcifica Schumach. & Thonn., Pouteria dulcifica (Schumach. & Thonn.) Baehni, Richardella dulcifica (Schumach. & Thonn.) Baehni, Sideroxylon dulcificum (Schumach. & Thonn.) A.DC., Synsepalum glycydora Wernham Morphological Description Synsepalum dulcificum is a small, evergreen understory shrub or tree, typically
2–4 meters tall, occasionally reaching 6 meters in native habitats. Its key
characteristics include: · Bark: Smooth, greyish-brown, with small lenticels; used in
traditional medicine (Burkill, 1995). · Leaves: Simple, alternate, obovate to elliptic (5–10 cm × 2–4 cm),
glossy dark green, clustered at branch tips; petioles short (0.5–1 cm). · Flowers: Small (5–7 mm), white to cream, solitary or in pairs in leaf
axils; 5-petaled, fragrant, blooming year-round in tropical climates (Prance
& Jongkind, 2015). · Fruit: Oblong, red berries (2–3 cm × 1 cm), with thin pulp
surrounding a single seed; contains miraculin, a taste-modifying glycoprotein
(Akinmoladun et al., 2020). Distribution and Habitat Synsepalum dulcificum is native to West and Central Africa, with cultivation
expanding globally: · Geographic Range: Native to Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Cameroon,
DR Congo, and Togo; introduced to tropical regions like Malaysia, India, and
Australia; cultivated in Nigeria for medicinal and culinary uses (Kew Science,
n.d.). · Habitat: Thrives in lowland rainforests, secondary forests, and along
watercourses; prefers moist, well-drained, loamy soils (pH 4.5–6.0) with annual
rainfall of 1,200–2,500 mm; occurs at elevations up to 400 m. · Ecological Role: Supports pollinators like bees; fruits are
consumed by birds, aiding seed dispersal; enhances understory biodiversity
(Burkill, 1995). Ethnopharmacology Synsepalum dulcificum is widely used in West African traditional medicine, with
extensive ethnopharmacological validation for multiple ailments (Akinmoladun et
al., 2020): · Antidiabetic: In Nigeria, leaf decoctions treat diabetes. Methanolic leaf
extracts (30–60 mg/kg) reduced blood glucose by 40% in fructose-fed
streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, enhancing insulin secretion and
inhibiting α-amylase (IC50: 0.5 mg/mL) (Obafemi et al., 2017). · Antioxidant: In Ghana, fruits combat oxidative stress. Methanolic fruit
extracts showed DPPH scavenging (60.05% at 1 mg/mL) and high phenolic content
(625.57 mg GAE/100 g), reducing ROS in biological systems (Babatunde et al.,
2019). · Anticancer: In Nigeria, fruit extracts are used for tumors. Ethanolic
fruit extracts exhibited cytotoxicity against HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells
(IC50: 8.54–14.99 μg/mL), with minimal toxicity to normal cells (IC50:
196.72–236.25 μg/mL) (Afzal et al., 2021). · Anti-hyperlipidemic: In Cameroon, leaves lower cholesterol.
Methanolic leaf extracts (200 mg/kg) reduced LDL cholesterol by 30% in
hyperlipidemic rats, attributed to flavonoids like catechin (Xie et al., 2024). · Antimalarial: In Benin, leaves treat malaria. Ethanolic leaf extracts
showed moderate antiplasmodial activity, supporting traditional use, though
specific compounds were not isolated (Okokon et al., 2008). · Antimicrobial: In Nigeria, fruit extracts treat infections. Petroleum ether
fruit extracts inhibited Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC: 50–100 μg/mL), linked to essential
oils (Afzal et al., 2021). · Taste Modification: In Nigeria, berries are used to sweeten
sour foods. Miraculin binds to sweet taste receptors under acidic conditions,
converting sour to sweet tastes, aiding chemotherapy patients with taste
disorders (Swamy et al., 2014). ⚠ Toxicity Profile: Synsepalum dulcificum is generally safe at therapeutic doses.
Sub-acute administration of leaf extracts up to 200 mg/kg showed no toxicity in
rats, with no significant hematological or biochemical changes. Mild side
effects, such as stomach ache and throat discomfort, were reported in some
human studies. High doses (>1,000 mg/kg) may cause liver enzyme elevation
(ALT increased by 10% after 30 days). Use is contraindicated in pregnancy and
for children due to insufficient safety data. Potential heavy metal
contamination in wild-harvested plants requires caution (Akinmoladun et al.,
2020; Swamy et al., 2014). Phytochemistry The bioactivity of Synsepalum dulcificum is attributed to its diverse phytochemical
profile (Akinmoladun et al., 2020): · Glycoproteins: Miraculin (0.1–0.5% in fruit pulp), responsible for taste
modification (Swamy et al., 2014). · Flavonoids: Quercetin, catechin, kaempferol, with antioxidant and antidiabetic
effects (Obafemi et al., 2017). · Phenolic Acids: Gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, enhancing
antimicrobial and anti-hyperlipidemic properties (Xie et al., 2024). · Alkaloids: Dihydro-feruloyl-5-methoxytyramine, N-cis-caffeoyltyramine,
supporting antimalarial activity (Akinmoladun et al., 2020). · Lignins: (+)-Syringaresinol, (+)-epi-syringaresinol, with anticancer
potential (Afzal et al., 2021). Additional Uses · Culinary: Berries are used in Nigeria to sweeten sour foods like palm
wine and citrus; popular in “flavor-tripping” events globally. · Ornamental: Cultivated in Ghana for its attractive foliage and red
berries, enhancing garden aesthetics (Burkill, 1995). · Nutritional: Fruits contain vitamin C (40.1 mg/100 g), low sugars (5.6
g/100 g), and high antioxidant capacity (457.3 μmol Trolox/100 g) (Inglett
& Chen, 2011). · Industrial: Seed oil, rich in oleic and palmitic acids, is explored for
cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications (Babatunde et al., 2019). References
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| Compounds of Synepalum dulcificum | |
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