Psidium guajava
Yellow guava
Psidium guajava, commonly known as guava, is a tropical evergreen shrub celebrated for its remarkable therapeutic properties. Rich in vitamins and bioactive compounds, this medicinal powerhouse offers potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory benefits. Traditionally used to treat digestive issues and skin ailments, it remains a cornerstone of natural wellness.
- Scientific name: Psidium guajava
- Family: Myrtaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Myrtales and the family Myrtaceae, it is classified under the genus Psidium.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Myrtales | WCVP |
| Family | Myrtaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Psidium | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Psidium guajava, is widely recognized across various regions, particularly in Chinese-speaking communities where it is consistently referred to by the same common name. In Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), and the specific regional variations for Hong Kong (zh-hk), Mainland China (zh-cn), and Singapore (zh-sg), it is known as 番石榴.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 番石榴 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 番石榴 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 番石榴 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 番石榴 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 番石榴 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 番石榴 | Wikidata |
| jv | Jambu kluthuk | Wikidata |
| pl | gujawa pospolita | Wikidata |
| qu | Sawintu | Wikidata |
| ms | Jambu batu | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several distinct regions. Within the Macaronesian archipelago, it can be found growing in the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, and Madeira. Additionally, its range extends into West Tropical Africa. Specifically, it is documented in the nations of Burkina and Gambia. Consequently, this species occupies both Atlantic islands and mainland African territories.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macaronesia | Canary Is. | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Madeira | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mauritania | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Psidium guajava, is highly valued for its therapeutic properties found throughout its various structures. The leaves are frequently harvested to create infusions used to treat digestive ailments, with each individual leaf containing significant amounts of tannins and antioxidants. Additionally, the fruits are widely consumed both for their nutritional value and their medicinal benefits in soothing the gastrointestinal tract, making the sweet fruit a staple in traditional wellness practices. Furthermore, the bark is often utilized in decoctions to combat inflammation and diarrhea, proving that nearly every part of this species serves a purpose in natural medicine.- Total parts
- 22
- Scientific sources
- 63
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 22 | ★★★★★ |
| leaf | 11 | ★★★★★ |
| fruits | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| fruit | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| bark | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extracts | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| whole plants | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| unripe fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem-bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Psidium guajava has 127 reported phytochemicals identified across 216 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, quercetin, tannins, gallic acid, phenols.
- Total chemicals
- 127
- Scientific sources
- 216
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 18 | ★★★★★ |
| quercetin | 15 | ★★★★★ |
| tannins | 9 | ★★★★☆ |
| gallic acid | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| phenols | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| rutin | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| ellagic acid | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| steroids | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
Activities
Psidium guajava has 24 reported activities identified across 82 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Anticancer.
- Total activities
- 24
- Scientific sources
- 82
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 18 | ★★★★★ |
| Antimicrobial | 11 | ★★★★★ |
| Antibacterial | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| Anticancer | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antiplasmodial | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antispasmodic | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Spasmolytic | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Psidium guajava has 112 reported medicinal uses identified across 164 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include diarrhea, cancer, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, oxidative stress.
- Total uses
- 112
- Scientific sources
- 164
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| diarrhea | 11 | ★★★★★ |
| cancer | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| dental caries | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |