Guava (Psidium spp., Psidium guajava) is a small tree or shrub that produces delicious fruits, native to South America, Central America and the Caribbean and now cultivated widely.
There are a number of varieties on the market, so the growth characteristics of the individual trees and fruits can vary as well depending on the variety. In general, they are roundish fruits with a pink aromatic flesh (sometimes also yellow, reddish, greenish or white). The fruits are consumed either raw or cooked, and they (as well as the leaves) may also be fed to livestock.
In some kinds of cuisine, the leaves are also consumed.
Various multiple uses exist for the Guava plant: an edible oil may be extracted from the seeds; the wood from the Guava tree is also used for smoking meats; its durable wood is used for making small implements; a brownish or yellow dye is prepared from the leaves; and the leaves can be used for tanning.
The Guava and its various plant parts (mainly the leaves and fruits) have a long history of use in the traditional medicines of many different regions.
It has been used extensively as a hypoglycemic agent, and its other main uses are for diarrhea and dysentery due to its astringent, antispasmodic and antimicrobial activity. The leaves have also been applied topically for their wound healing and antimicrobial properties. The seeds are being explored for their use in cosmetics for their essential fatty acid content. All parts of the Guava plant are used medicinally—the roots, bark, leaves, seeds and fruit.
The complex mixture of essential oils in the fruit give them an aromatic or ‘perfumey’ quality.
Guava contains a number of pharmacologically active compounds, including phenolic compounds, and the interesting Psidium alkaloids are studied for their potential antidiabetic and neuroprotective properties.
Through scientific investigation, it has been documented to exhibit antispasmodic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, cytotoxic, cardioprotective, anticough, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective activities.
In a randomized clinical trials guava extract has been found to have beneficial effects in primary dysmennorhea disorder, probably due to its antispasmodic action.
Another study highlighted guava leaf extract’s ability to modulate blood glucose levels by inhibiting α-glucosidase, an enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates, thereby reducing postprandial blood sugar spikes.
Guava leaf tea was found to significantly lowered LDL cholesterol and increased HDL cholesterol in participants with hyperlipidemia, supporting its role in cardiovascular health.
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**This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.
The Fragrant Functional Fruit
