Water-pear
StarSyzygium guineense
Synonyms: Calyptranthes guineensis, Eugenia guineensis, Syzygium fourcadei, Eugenia fourcadei
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Syzygium guineense, the water-pear or waterberry, is a medium to large evergreen or semi-deciduous tree in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), broadly distributed across tropical Africa from Senegal and Ethiopia south to South Africa and Madagascar, where it occupies riverine forest, woodland, and montane forest from sea level to over 2400 meters. The species is taxonomically variable and several subspecies (subsp. guineense, subsp. afromontanum, subsp. macrocarpum, subsp. barotsense) are recognised. Mature trees commonly reach 15-30 meters with a straight bole bearing rough, longitudinally fissured, pale grey to brown bark and a dense, dark-green, often spreading crown. Leaves are opposite, simple, elliptic to oblanceolate, 6-18 cm long, leathery, glabrous, with a fine intramarginal vein and many translucent gland dots visible against light. Inflorescences are terminal or subterminal corymbose panicles bearing many creamy-white fragrant flowers with four small petals and a showy mass of long white stamens up to 1 cm long. Fruits are ellipsoid to globose fleshy berries 1-2 cm across, ripening dark purple to almost black, edible and sweetish-astringent.
Active Constituents
Hydrolysable and condensed tannins (including gallotannins/ellagitannins)
Tannins / polyphenolsConcentration: Abundant in bark and leaves
Astringent polyphenols that underpin the traditional use of bark and leaf decoctions for diarrhoea and wounds and contribute to antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.
Flavonoids (quercetin, myricetin and their glycosides)
FlavonoidsConcentration: Present in leaves and fruit
Contribute antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and alpha-glucosidase-inhibitory activity reported for leaf extracts.
Triterpenoids (e.g. betulinic, oleanolic and ursolic acid types)
Pentacyclic triterpenoidsConcentration: Isolated from bark and root extracts
Associated with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and cytoprotective effects observed in experimental studies of the species.
Phenolic acids (gallic and ellagic acid)
Phenolic acidsConcentration: Present across leaf, bark and fruit
Antioxidant and antimicrobial phenolics that add to the radical-scavenging capacity of extracts.
Sterols and essential-oil components
Phytosterols and volatile terpenesConcentration: Minor constituents of leaves and bark
Reported among the isolated constituents; contribute to the overall pharmacological profile though individually less characterised.
Preparation Methods
Bark decoction
Parts: bark
Pieces of bark are boiled in water and the strained astringent liquid taken in small amounts, traditionally across sub-Saharan Africa for diarrhoea, dysentery and stomach complaints. Tannin content makes strong or prolonged use potentially irritating.
Leaf decoction / infusion
Parts: leaves
Fresh or dried leaves are simmered in water and the liquid used internally for fevers, malaria and blood-sugar complaints or externally to wash wounds; this preparation is the one most studied in antidiabetic and antimalarial animal models.
Root preparation
Parts: roots
Root pieces are decocted in traditional practice for pain, gastrointestinal and infectious conditions; roots and bark should be used cautiously given their high tannin and saponin content.
Edible fruit
Parts: fruit
The ripe purple-black berries are eaten fresh as a food and mild astringent, and are a source of anthocyanins and vitamin C.
Clinical Studies
Antimalarial activity of Syzygium guineense during early and established Plasmodium infection in rodent models
Crude leaf extract of S. guineense produced significant, dose-dependent suppression of Plasmodium berghei parasitaemia in both suppressive and curative rodent models, supporting the plant's ethnomedicinal use against malaria.
Acute and Subacute Toxicity of Methanol Extract of Syzygium guineense Leaves on the Histology of the Liver and Kidney and Biochemical Compositions of Blood in Rats
Methanol leaf extract showed no acute lethality up to 2000 mg/kg and no significant adverse histological or biochemical changes over repeated dosing, indicating a wide margin of safety for the traditionally used leaf preparation.
Historical Texts
Traditional sub-Saharan African ethnomedicine (oral tradition, documented in later ethnobotanical surveys)
Pre-modern to presentReferences
- Tadesse SA, Wubneh ZB. Antimalarial activity of Syzygium guineense during early and established Plasmodium infection in rodent models . BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2017) [DOI]
- Loha M, Mulu A, Abay SM, Ergete W, Geleta B. Acute and Subacute Toxicity of Methanol Extract of Syzygium guineense Leaves on the Histology of the Liver and Kidney and Biochemical Compositions of Blood in Rats . Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2019) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Water-pear.
No notes yet.