| Cnestis ferruginea | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Oxalidales |
| Family: | Connaraceae |
| Genus: | Cnestis |
| Species: | C. ferruginea |
| Binomial name | |
| Cnestis ferruginea Vahl ex DC. | |
The shrub Cnestis ferruginea is native to Africa. It is best known for its uses in herbal medicine.
The tart, astringent fruit is chewed for oral hygiene. Extracts from the fruit have been found to have antimicrobial effects, especially against gram-positive bacteria. [1] It is used in the Nigerian polyherbal mixture Aju Mbaise along with other plant species. [2]