Ximenia Caffra
Ximenia caffra
Sour plum, a well-known wild fruit of southern Africa. Its seed extract eased arthritis in rats.
Safety at a glance
- PregnancyNothing recorded
- BreastfeedingNothing recorded
- MedicinesNothing recorded
- Who should avoid itNothing recorded
- AllergiesNothing recorded
- ToxicityNothing recorded
Tap a box to read the safety notes below. “Nothing recorded” means our sources don't cover it, not that it's safe.
What is Ximenia Caffra?
- Plant family
- Olacaceae, the olax family
- Parts used
- The fruit and seeds
- Where it grows
- Southern and eastern Africa
- Genus
- Ximenia
- Species
- caffra
Also called
Sour Plum
Traditionally used for
- Wild fruit
Traditionally described as
- Sour edible fruit
What does the research say?
Traditional use
These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.
In rural Limpopo, South Africa, sour plum is one of the best-known wild fruits: 83% of households surveyed named it, though few still eat it.[1]Study
Laboratory & animal research
Lab and animal results show what might be worth studying in people. They don't show that the herb has these effects in humans.
In rats with arthritis, a seed extract reduced joint swelling and inflammation and helped restore the joints toward normal, compared with the arthritis drug methotrexate.[2]Study
In short
No human or safety studies were found.
Sources
- [1] Traditional knowledge and consumption of wild edible plants in rural households, Limpopo Province, South Africa · DOI: 10.1186/s13002-025-00773-5Peer-reviewed study
- [2] In vitro anti-inflammatory potential and in vivo anti-arthritis activities of Ximenia caffra extract on antigen-induced arthritis in rats · DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-32300-7Peer-reviewed study
This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Unfamiliar word? See what these words mean.