Psidium guineense
Psidium guineense, commonly known as the Guinean guava, is a versatile medicinal shrub celebrated in traditional African medicine. Renowned for its potent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, its leaves and bark are frequently utilized to treat digestive ailments, skin infections, and inflammatory conditions, offering significant therapeutic potential for holistic wellness.
- Scientific name: Psidium guineense
- Family: Myrtaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further categorized under the order Myrtales and the family Myrtaceae. Ultimately, its scientific designation is placed within 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 guineense, is known by various common names depending on the region and language. In Persian, it is referred to as گواوا برزیلی, while in Portuguese, it is called Araçá-do-campo. Its names also include 기니아구아바 in Korean, 巴西芭樂 in Chinese, and Kvajáva brazilská in Czech.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| fa | گواوا برزیلی | Wikidata |
| pt | Araçá-do-campo | Wikidata |
| ko | 기니아구아바 | Wikidata |
| zh | 巴西芭樂 | Wikidata |
| cs | Kvajáva brazilská | Wikidata |
| zh | 几内亚番石榴 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several key regions across the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found specifically within the Ivory Coast. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, the species is well-established in Congo, Gabon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its range further extends southward into the South Tropical Africa region, specifically in Angola. Collectively, these locations highlight the diverse ecological niches that Psidium guineense inhabits.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gabon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Angola | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Southwestern Pacific | New Caledonia | WCVP |
| South-Central Pacific | Marquesas | WCVP |
| South-Central Pacific | Society Is. | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Psidium guineense, offers various therapeutic components that are utilized in traditional medicine, particularly the parts derived from its reproductive structures. The fruit's pulps are often valued for their nutritional content and potential antioxidant properties, providing a fleshy medium for bioactive compounds. Additionally, the fruit pericarp, which constitutes the outer skin or rind of the fruit, is frequently studied or harvested for its specific medicinal constituents, often containing concentrated phytochemicals that contribute to the plant's overall healing profile.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fruit's pulps | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit pericarp | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Psidium guineense has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ethyl butanoate, limonene, sucrose, terpenes.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ethyl butanoate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| limonene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sucrose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Psidium guineense has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Staphylococcus aureus.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |