What are the traditional uses of Chrysobalanus icaco?

Chrysobalanus icaco has 20 documented traditional uses in the Verdica ethnobotanical reference database. This information is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the FDA.

What phytochemicals are found in Chrysobalanus icaco?

Chrysobalanus icaco contains 5 documented phytochemical compounds in the Verdica database.

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Chrysobalanus icaco

Cocoa plum

Family: Chrysobalanaceae • Genus: Chrysobalanus • Region: NORTHERN AMERICA: United States, Florida (south), Mexico, Tamaulipas, Campeche, Chiapas, Guerrero, Michoacán de Ocampo, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, Yucatán, SomaliaUTHERN AMERICA: Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Brazil, Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Maranhão, Pará, Paraíba, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Amapá, Colombia, Ecuador, AFRICA: Central African Republic, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Côte D Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Angola, Zambia.

Summary: Chrysobalanus icaco (Cocoa plum) is a plant in the Chrysobalanaceae family. Verdica documents 20 traditional uses, 5 phytochemical compounds, and 0 herb-drug interactions for this species.

Traditional Uses

Phytochemicals

Herb-Drug Interactions

Edibility Records

Pet Toxicity Records

About Chrysobalanus icaco

Coco Plum or Chysobalanus icaco is a widely cultivated food plant commonly found near sea beaches and inland. It is a small evergreen tree or a shrub that grows up to 6 m tall. It has long, flexible branches, green, leathery leaves, and small greenish white flowers that form into erect clusters in the leave axils. It can also be grown as a hedge and it is propagated by seeds or woody stem cuttings. Medicinally, it is used internally against dysentery, dyspepsia, and diarrhoea and externally against various skin conditions. The purple or red, sweet fruit is consumed raw or cooked into jams and jellies. The seed can be eaten raw also or roasted. It yields edible oil. Both fruits and leaves, on the other hand, yield black dye.

Care Information

Sunlight	Full sun
Watering	Low — drought tolerant
Soil	Well-drained
Hardiness Zone	USDA 10-12

Explore the full profile of Chrysobalanus icaco in the Verdica app — including detailed traditional uses, phytochemical data, care guides, and more.

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Disclaimer: The statements on this page regarding traditional uses of plants have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Traditional use information is presented for educational and historical reference purposes only, reflecting documented ethnobotanical practices. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal preparation, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have any medical condition. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 (US) or your local emergency number immediately.

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