feijoa

Feijoa sellowiana · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Extensive (186 studies) · ★★★★☆

Feijoa, scientifically known as Feijoa sellowiaana, is a versatile evergreen shrub prized for its aromatic fruit and medicinal potential. Traditionally used in folk medicine, its leaves and fruit offer antioxidant properties. Often valued in herbal remedies for digestive support and wellness, this plant remains a fascinating botanical treasure.

Family
Myrtaceae
Native range
Africa
Parts used
Fruit · Leaf
Common names
Guavasteen · Pineapple Guava
Scientific synonyms
Acca Sellowiana · Acca Sellowiana Var. Rugosa · 7 more

Names

Common Names

Regional and Traditional Names

Spanish:

  • Falso Guayabo
  • Guayabo de Brasil

German:

  • Ananas-Guave
  • Feijoa
  • Ananasguave
  • Brasilianische Guave

French:

  • Feijoa de Sellow
  • Goyavier de Montevideo
  • Goyavier du Brésil

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Feijoa sellowiana

Synonyms

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Feijoa sello вина, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Myrtales and the family Myrtaceae. It is further distinguished by its placement within the genus Feijoa.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Myrtales WCVP
Family Myrtaceae WCVP
Genus Feijoa WCVP

Distribution

This plant exhibits a unique and highly fragmented geographical distribution across two distinct global regions. In East Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the borders of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Additionally, the species has established a presence within the islands of New Zealand. Within that country, it is distributed across both New Zealand North and New Zealand South. Such a wide separation suggests a very specialized ecological range spanning multiple continents.

Region Area Source
East Tropical Africa Kenya WCVP
East Tropical Africa Tanzania WCVP
East Tropical Africa Uganda WCVP
New Zealand New Zealand North WCVP
New Zealand New Zealand South WCVP
Central America Costa Rica WCVP
Western South America Colombia WCVP
Brazil Brazil Southeast WCVP
Brazil Brazil South WCVP
Southern South America Argentina Northeast WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Feijoa sellowiana, possesses various components that are studied for their therapeutic potential. The leaves are often a primary focus in botanical research due to their bioactive compounds, which can be processed into a methanolic extract to isolate specific medicinal properties. Additionally, the plant's reproductive potential is contained within its seeds, which contribute to its overall biological profile. The nutritional and medicinal value of the plant is also heavily concentrated in its edible portions, where different preparations such as concentrated fruit extracts and more diluted fruit extract formulations are utilized to investigate their antioxidant and health-promoting effects.
Plant Part Sources Consensus
fruit Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
leaf Heliyon (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
seed Heliyon (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Feijoa sellowiana has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, Benzyl adenine, CALCIUM, FAT, FLAVONE.

Chemicals reported in Feijoa sellowiana
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
Ash 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Benzyl adenine 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
CALCIUM 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
FAT 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
FLAVONE 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Flavonoid 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
IRON 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Iodides 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
MAGNESIUM 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
PHOSPHORUS 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Ash

  1. Dr. Duke

Benzyl adenine

  1. Heliyon

CALCIUM

  1. Dr. Duke

FAT

  1. Dr. Duke

FLAVONE

  1. The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology

Flavonoid

  1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

IRON

  1. Dr. Duke

Iodides

  1. Dr. Duke

MAGNESIUM

  1. Dr. Duke

PHOSPHORUS

  1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Feijoa sellowiana has 158 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Acidulant, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Analgesic, Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker, AntiAGE.

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Consensus
Acidulant Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Analgesic Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
AntiAGE Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
AntiCFS Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
AntiCTS Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
AntiCrohn's Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
AntiLyme Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
AntiMS Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Feijoa sellowiana has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Blood clotting, cancer, myeloid leukemia, platelet aggregation, skin diseases.

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Consensus
Blood clotting Heliyon (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
cancer Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
myeloid leukemia The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
platelet aggregation Heliyon (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
skin diseases Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Preparations

Preparations Sources Consensus
Ag-NPs-F. sellowiana Acta parasitologica (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
ethanol 70% extract Heliyon (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
fruit extract Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
methanilic Feijoa sellowiana fruits Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
methanolic extract Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
polar and non-polar extracts Heliyon (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆