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This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Carissa edulis is a medicinal plant used in African pharmacopeia with demonstrated antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anticonvulsant properties [PMID:40162365, 31330950, 18822365].
Background
Carissa edulis (also known as simple-spined num-num) is a plant distributed in tropical Africa and Asia [PMID:31930853, 31330950]. It is utilized in various traditional medicine systems, including those of Nigeria, Benin, Kenya, and Yemen [PMID:25856720, 35977457, 8145572, 31930853].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used to manage epilepsy, cancer, inflammation, fever, headache, cough, rheumatism, chest complaints, gonorrhoea, syphilis, rabies, and as a diuretic [PMID:25856720, 31930853, 15374607]. In Kenya, it is also used as a dye and for edible roots [PMID:8145572].
Active compounds
Identified compounds include phenolic acids (quinic acid, protocatechuoyl-hexose, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, and dicaffeoylquinic acid) and flavonoids (rutin, catechin) [PMID:31330950]. Root barks contain carissaedulosides A-J (apiosylated phenylpropanoids, a coumarin-secoiridoid hybrid, and furofuran lignans), as well as cardenolides [PMID:32717694]. Other constituents include alkaloids [PMID:29439737], tannins [PMID:31223295], and 2-hydroxyacetophenone as a principal root volatile [PMID:6533264].
Mechanism of action
The plant induces endothelium-dependent relaxation of coronary artery rings involving nitric oxide [PMID:35977457]. It exhibits neuroprotective effects against L-glutamic acid-induced neurotoxicity and scopolamine-induced memory impairment by modulating oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity [PMID:40162365, 32934845].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DConvulsions/Epilepsy
Root bark extract produced 40% protection against PTZ-induced convulsions at 5 mg/kg in mice [PMID:18822365].
Evidence DNeurotoxicity/Memory Loss
Aqueous extract exhibited protective effects against L-glutamic acid-induced neurotoxicity in mice [PMID:40162365] and improved learning and memory in scopolamine-induced impairment models [PMID:32934845].
Evidence DCancer
Ethylacetate extracts showed antiproliferative activity against human breast (HCC 1395) and prostate cancer cells [PMID:37489007]; specific glycosides (carissaedulosides) showed cytotoxicity against A549 and MCF-7 cell lines [PMID:32717694].
Evidence DHypertension
Aqueous-ethanolic extracts of aerial parts induced endothelium-dependent relaxation of porcine coronary artery rings [PMID:35977457].
Evidence DHepatotoxicity
Ethanolic extract provided a protective role against dimethoate-induced liver injury in guinea pigs [PMID:31930853].
Evidence D
Safety & adverse effects
The oral median lethal dose (LD50) of root bark extract in rats was determined to be over 5000 mg/kg [PMID:18822365]. Intraperitoneal LD50 was reported as 282.8 mg/kg [PMID:18822365].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is based entirely on in vitro cell assays and animal models (mice, rats, guinea pigs, chicks); there are no human clinical trials provided. Evidence strength is low (Level D).
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 31330950 (2019) — Polyphenolic and Physicochemical Properties of Simple-Spined Num-Num (Carissa edulis) Fruit Harvested at Ripe Stage of Maturation. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2.PMID: 40162365 (2025) — Therapeutic effects of Carissa edulis aqueous extract against L-glutamic acid-induced neurotoxicity in brain mice. · IBRO neuroscience reports
3.PMID: 18822365 (2008) — Anticonvulsant activity of Carissa edulis (Vahl) (Apocynaceae) root bark extract. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
4.PMID: 35977457 (2022) — Carissa edulis Vahl (Apocynaceae) extract, a medicinal plant of Benin pharmacopoeia, induces potent endothelium-dependent relaxation of coronary artery rings involving nitric oxide. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
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Aqueous root extract inhibited plaque formation in Vero E6 cells for both wild type and resistant strains of HSV in vitro and in vivo [PMID:16198524].
Evidence DEdema/Fluid Retention
Root wood extracts significantly increased urine output in rats at 50 mg/kg [PMID:15374607].
(2023)
— In Vitro Antiproliferative Effects and Phytochemical Characterization of Carissa edulis ((Forssk) Vahl) and Pappea capensis (Eckyl and Zeyh) Extracts.
· Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine
6.PMID: 25856720 (2015) — Anticonvulsant activity of aqueous fraction of Carissa edulis root bark. · Pharmaceutical biology
7.PMID: 32934845 (2020) — Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment in Mice: Neuroprotective Effects of Carissa edulis (Forssk.) Valh (Apocynaceae) Aqueous Extract. · International journal of Alzheimer's disease
8.PMID: 8145572 (1993) — Ethnobotany of Apocynaceae species in Kenya. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
9.PMID: 36747936 (2023) — In vitro antioxidant activities of Carissa edulis ((Forssk) Vahl) and Pappea capensis (Eckyl. & Zeyh) extracts. · Heliyon
10.PMID: 31930853 (2019) — Protective Role of Carissa edulis Ethanolic Extract Against Dimethoate-induced Hepatotoxicity in Guinea Pigs. · Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
11.PMID: 32717694 (2020) — Ten new glycosides, carissaedulosides A-J from the root barks of Carissa edulis and their cytotoxicities. · Bioorganic chemistry
12.PMID: 6533264 (1984) — 2-Hydroxyacetophenone: principal root volatile of the East African medicinal plant, Carissa edulis. · Journal of natural products
13.PMID: 32908971 (2020) — Activities of Some Medicinal Plants on the Proliferation and Invasion of Brain Tumor Cell Lines. · Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences
14.PMID: 15374607 (2004) — Diuretic effect of the crude extracts of Carissa edulis in rats. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
15.PMID: 40275320 (2025) — Evaluation of the antiproliferative, cytotoxic and phytochemical properties of Zimbabwean medicinal plants used in cancer treatment. · BMC complementary medicine and therapies
16.PMID: 31223295 (2019) — Quantification of Bioactive Compounds and Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Carissa edulis Valh (Apocynaceae) Leaves. · TheScientificWorldJournal
17.PMID: 29439737 (2018) — Variability of phenolic and alkaloid content in different plant parts of Carissa edulis Vahl and Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. · BMC research notes
18.PMID: 16198524 (2006) — Anti-viral activity of the extracts of a Kenyan medicinal plant Carissa edulis against herpes simplex virus. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
19.PMID: 23567035 (2013) — Safety assessment of the standardized extract of Carissa edulis root bark in rats. · Journal of ethnopharmacology