Medinilla cumingii Naudin

Parijoto (Medinilla cumingii) is a shrub up to 1.8 meters tall from the Melastomataceae family that originates from the Philippines. Its beautifully arranged flowers and fruit make it a popular ornamental, while its ripe fruit can be eaten directly. In Indonesia, parijoto is traditionally believed to help strengthen the embryo for pregnant women.

The parijoto plant grows in forests at elevations of 700-1,000 m asl. Prefers partial shade, with moist soil, fertile loamy soil, and good drainage.

• Stem round to subquadrangular, 4-5 cm in diameter at the base, rough hairs, yellowish-brown.
• Leaves large, rough, somewhat glossy, with 5 prominent veins, 3/4 of the leaf encircling the stem segment.
• Flowers small, 4 whitish-pink petals with purplish stamens, produced in hanging panicle clusters, whitish flower buds.
• Fruit a round fleshy berry, ripening from pink to magenta to red or purplish-red over several weeks.
• Seeds small (less than 1 mm) and numerous (50 to 100 per fruit), embedded in a pulp mass inside the locule.

Plant propagation is done through old stem cuttings as well as through seeds. Seeds come from very ripe (mature) fruit.

Saponin, tannin, flavonoid, glycoside, steroid, and alkaloid compounds.

Strengthens the embryo, prevents eye disease, relieves pain and swelling from ant bites, increases stamina, improves blood circulation to the brain and muscles, as a chemopreventive agent and has antibacterial activity.

Parijata.