Coffea arabica,C. canephora and other species and hydrids   Coffee Family: Rubicaeae      
C. arabica- Arabica This species makes up about 70% of the world market for coffee beans. They are more flavorful, and grown in higher altitudes.
C. canephor- Robusta. This high caffeine content species makes up about 27% of the world coffee bean market. Being a cheaper to produce coffee bean but with a lower taste profile, this coffee is often sold for use in instant coffee. Taste like tires, really acrid in taste. Grown at lower altitudes all the way down to sea level. Higher caffeine content than Arabica. Mostly used in blends to increase caffeine content. It is produced primarily in Indonesia, West Africa, Brazil, and Vietnam.
C. liberica- Liberian coffee. This species, grown in Malaysia, Liberia and the Ivory Coast, makes up about 3% of the world coffee bean market.
PART  Kernel of the dried ripe seed
ACTIONS - Well known as a beverage. Most of these effects are due to the caffeine content.[2,3,4]
1. Stimulant, diuretic
2. Anti-narcotic, antiemetic.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Large doses cause tachycardia, wakefulness.[1]
NOTE: Coffee is not used medicinally very often by caffeine is an ingredient of many analgesic preparations as it potentiates the effect of Paracetamol and Aspirin and produces a feeling of well-being.[1]

        

HABITAT: Cultivated in many tropical countries.
DESCRIPTION: The beans are oval-concave on one side, flat on the other, with a central longitudinal groove, grey-green when fresh and brown when roasted.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents
Research

Lipid analysis of Coffea arabica Linn. beans and their possible hypercholesterolemic effects.
al Kanhal MA.
Abstract
Lipid composition of green Coffea arabica beans is reported with special emphasis on fatty acid composition. Triacylglycerols were found to be the major lipid constituents of the coffee oil along with sterol esters, sterols/triterpene alcohol, hydrocarbons and the hydrolyzed products of triacylglycerols as the minor components. Fatty acid composition of total oil, neutral lipids, polar lipids and pure triacylglycerols showed the presence of fatty acids of C14, C16, C18, and C20 carbon chains. Palmitic and linoleic acids were the major fatty acids and comprise about 38.7 and 35.9% respectively. Pancreatic lipase hydrolysis revealed that the linoleoyl and palmitoyl moieties are preferentially esterified at the Sn-2 and Sn-1,3 positions of triacylglycerols respectively. The presence of high amounts of palmitic acid at Sn-1,3 position in coffee oil may be partly responsible for its hypercholesterolemic effects.
PMID: 9135777 Int J Food Sci Nutr. 1997 Mar;48(2):135-9. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Influence of coffee (Coffea arabica) and galacto-oligosaccharide consumption on intestinal microbiota and the host responses.
Nakayama T, Oishi K.
Abstract
Although studies have reported numerous effects of coffee on human health, few studies have examined its specific effects on gut microbiota. This study aimed to clarify the influence of coffee and galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) consumption on gut microbiota and host responses. After mice consumed coffee and GOS, their intestines were sampled, and the bacterial counts were measured with quantitative RT-PCR. Results showed that GOS consumption significantly increased total bacteria counts in the proximal colon. Although Escherichia coli and Clostridium spp. counts significantly decreased in the proximal colon, Bifidobacterium spp. counts increased remarkably in the same area. A bacterial growth inhibition assay was also conducted, and the results showed that E. coli growth was inhibited only by a coffee agar. Host responses were also investigated, revealing that coffee and GOS consumption remarkably increased aquaporin8 expression in the proximal colon. In conclusion, coffee has antibiotic effects, and GOS significantly decreased E. coli and Clostridium spp. counts, but increased Bifidobacterium spp. counts remarkably. Aquaporin8 expression was also increased with a mixture of coffee and GOS consumption. This is the first study to demonstrate that coffee consumption can regulate gut microbiota and increase aquaporin8, both of which are necessary for maintaining intestinal balance.
PMID: 23551139 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6968.12142
FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2013 Jun;343(2):161-8. doi: 10.1111/1574-6968.12142. Epub 2013 May 9. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov