Psidium guajava

HABIT: Psidium guajava is well known tropic tree which is abundantly grown for fruit. The plant has a wide spreading network of branches. Mostly its branches are curved which display opposite leaves with the small petioles of about 3 to 16 cm. The leaves are wide and clear green in color and have clear and prominent veins. The plant produces white flowers with incurved petals having a nice fragrant. Flowers have four to six petals and yellow colored anthers and pollination occurs by the insects. Guava fruit ranges from small to medium sized with 3 to 6 cm length. 

CONSERVATION STATUS: Evaluated as 'Least Concern' by IUCN.

MEDICINAL USES: Extracts and phytochemicals isolated from Psidium guajava leaves have been shown to have multiple disease ameliorating effects caused by microbial pathogens. Its most widespread traditional use has been for the treatment of diarrhoea. Leaf extracts of Psidium guajava, as reviewed here, have been found to have antimicrobial activity against several bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites, with proven ability to ameliorate diarrhoeal, and also gastroenteritis, dental plaque, acne, infantile rotaviral enteritis and even malaria suggesting wide antimicrobial activity. Research summarised here also indicates that guava leaves provide antioxidant and other effects providing beneficial protective properties to the heart and liver with an improvement in myocardial and muscular function. Leaves are the part of the plant that is most frequently used in the forms of decoction. 

(Gutiérrez, R. M. P., Mitchell, S., & Solis, R. V. (2008). Psidium guajava: A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 117(1), 1-27.)

ETHNOBOTANICAL USES: More recent ethnopharmacological studies show that Psidium guajava is used in many parts of the world for the treatment of a number of diseases, e.g. as an anti-inflammatory, for diabetes, hypertension, caries, wounds, pain relief and reducing fever. Some of the countries with a long history of traditional medicinal use of guava include Mexico and other Central American countries including the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. 

(Gutiérrez, R. M. P., Mitchell, S., & Solis, R. V. (2008). Psidium guajava: A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 117(1), 1-27.)