Achyrocline satureioides
Harm score: 1 (Natural substances)
Achyrocline satureioides, also known as Barbados cherry, tropical cherry, bald malpighia or malpighia, is an evergreen shrub native to South America. It grows mainly in warm tropical and subtropical areas such as Barbados, Suriname or Guyana. This plant is popular for its round fruit, which ripens red and has a sweet and sour taste. It also has an important role in traditional medicine.
The fruit of the Barbados cherry is mainly used in the food industry to make jams, juices and marmalades. The tradition of using these fruits in the kitchen goes back a long way. Before the arrival of Europeans in South America, the indigenous peoples there were already drying the fruit and using it as a source of vitamin C in winter. In the pharmaceutical industry, the fruit is used to make vitamin preparations. They contain large amounts of vitamin C, vitamin A, pantothenic acid, flavonoids and other health benefits. In medieval medical practice, the plant was used as a remedy for a range of ailments, from colds and headaches to skin problems and inflammation. The cosmetic industry also uses the fruit to produce raw materials for skin rejuvenating and hair strengthening products.