A Review On The Species: Psidium Guajava L

Psidium guajava L., commonly known as guava, is a tropical fruit-bearing plant belonging to the family Myrtaceae that has long been valued for its nutritional richness and broad therapeutic potential (Joshi et al., 2023). Various parts of the plant, including its leaves, peel, pulp, bark, and roots, have been traditionally utilized to manage a wide range of ailments such as diarrhea, dysentery, skin disorders, and inflammatory conditions (Joshi et al., 2023). Beyond its ethnomedicinal applications, guava has attracted growing scientific interest due to its rich phytochemical profile, which includes phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and other bioactive constituents responsible for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and photoprotective properties (Dewage et al., 2023). Studies have further demonstrated that extracts derived from guava fruit, particularly those obtained through advanced techniques such as supercritical CO? extraction, are capable of inhibiting intestinal glucose transporters, thereby supporting the plant's recognized antidiabetic potential (König et al., 2019). Collectively, these findings underscore the pharmacological versatility of Psidium guajava and highlight its promise as a natural source of bioactive compounds for the development of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceutical formulations.

TAXONOMICAL CLASSIFICAION

Species: Psidium Guajava (L.)

Family: Myrtaceae

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Angiospermae

Class: Dicotyledonae

Order: Myrtales

Genus: Psidium

REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON: Psidium Guajava Linn.

BARK:
?Pereira et al., 2023 evaluated the antibacterial activity of Psidium guajava leaf aqueous extract prepared by decoction in water. The extract contained major phytochemicals including quercetin, rutin, hesperidin, tannins, gallic acid, and other phenolic acids, and showed significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with a MIC of 6.8 mg/mL, while no activity was observed against Escherichia coli. The antimicrobial effect was mainly attributed to its high phenolic, tannin, and flavonoid content.

?Naseer et al., 2018 reviewed the phytochemistry and medicinal properties of Psidium guajava, highlighting the antimicrobial potential of bark and leaves. The review reports that methanolic bark extracts exhibit strong antibacterial activity against Bacillus and Salmonella species, while the bark contains 12–30% tannins, polyphenols, resins, and calcium oxalate crystals, which are considered the major bioactive constituents responsible for its antimicrobial activity. The review also emphasizes the presence of flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, steroids, and triterpenoids contributing to the broad pharmacological potential of P. guajava.

?Daswani et al., 2017 reviewed the medicinal properties of Psidium guajava and reported that the stem bark, mainly as aqueous/decoction extracts, possesses antiamoebic, antigiardial, antiplasmodial, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial activities. The bark contains polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic compounds, which contribute to its pharmacological effects and support its traditional use in treating dysentery, gastrointestinal infections, tuberculosis, and malaria.

?Sekhar et al., 2014 investigated the antinociceptive activity of the aqueous bark extract of Psidium guajava. The bark was extracted by Soxhlet extraction using water. The extract showed significant analgesic activity in tail clip, tail flick, and acetic acid-induced writhing models, with the 200 mg/kg dose being the most effective. The activity was associated with the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and alkaloids, suggesting both central and peripheral analgesic mechanisms.

?Fasola et al., 2011 investigated the chemical composition, toxicity, and antioxidant activity of Psidium guajava stem bark essential oil. The essential oil was extracted from fresh stem bark by hydro-distillation using a Clevenger apparatus and analyzed by GC–MS. The oil was rich in hydrocarbons, amines, amides, and esters, with 3,6-dioxa-2,4,5,7-tetraoctane,2,2,4,4,5,5,7,7-octamethyl and cyclononane as the major constituents. The essential oil exhibited strong antioxidant activity in the DPPH radical scavenging assay and showed toxicity in the brine shrimp lethality assay (LC?? = 1.0009 µg/mL), indicating the presence of biologically active secondary metabolites.

FRUIT:

?Möwes et al., 2025 investigated the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Psidium guajava fruit peel extracted by maceration using methanol, 70% methanol, acetone, and 70% acetone. The extracts contained alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, caryophyllene, eucalyptol, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, and exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, along with strong antioxidant activity, particularly in the acetone extract.

?Kareem and Kadhim, 2024 reviewed the phytochemical constituents and pharmacological properties of Psidium guajava using evidence from previous studies. The review reported that fruits, leaves, bark, seeds, and roots contain diverse bioactive compounds, including flavonoids (quercetin, guaijaverin, rutin), phenolic acids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, terpenoids, carotenoids (lycopene and β-carotene), polysaccharides, and essential oils, extracted using aqueous, ethanolic, methanolic, hydroalcoholic, hexane, and supercritical CO? methods. These phytochemicals were associated with antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antidiarrheal, and antiparasitic activities, highlighting the medicinal potential of P. guajava.

?Joshi et al., 2023 reviewed the phytochemical composition and medicinal properties of Psidium guajava. The review highlighted that the fruit, along with other plant parts, contains bioactive compounds including quercetin, rutin, flavonoids, tannins, ellagic acid, α-terpineol, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, β-sitosterol, lectins, and amritoside. Although no specific extraction method or solvent was reported, these phytochemicals were associated with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anticancer, antiproliferative, and hepatoprotective activities, supporting the therapeutic potential of P. guajava fruit.

?Lok et al., 2023 reviewed the anticancer potential of Psidium guajava fruit extracts and reported that fruit, pulp, and carotenoid fractions extracted mainly with petroleum ether, ethanol, acetone, and 95% ethanol exhibited significant antiproliferative activity against breast, prostate, colon, lung, liver, melanoma, and leukemia cancer cell lines. The major bioactive constituents identified were lycopene, apigenin, resveratrol, guajadial D, guajadial A, guajadial B, 4,5-diepipsidial A, and psiguadial D, which induced apoptosis, cell-cycle arrest, inhibition of angiogenesis and cell migration, and suppression of cancer cell proliferation, highlighting guava fruit as a promising natural source of anticancer phytochemicals.

?König et al., 2019 investigated the antihyperglycemic activity of Psidium guajava fruit extracted by supercritical CO? extraction (SFE). The extract contained 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and kojic acid as major phytochemicals and significantly reduced postprandial blood glucose by inhibiting SGLT1 and GLUT2-mediated glucose absorption in a randomized clinical trial, indicating its potential for diabetes management.

?Thaptimthong et al., 2016 investigated the cardiovascular effects of fresh Psidium guajava fruit juice prepared by mechanical juicing and filtration (no extraction solvent used) in healthy volunteers. Consumption of 500 mL of the juice significantly reduced collagen-induced platelet aggregation, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate. The observed effects were attributed to flavonoids, including quercetin, myricetin, apigenin, leucocyanidin, and quercetin glycosides, suggesting that fresh guava fruit juice has potential cardioprotective and antiplatelet properties.­­­

LEAVES:

?Möwes et al., 2025 investigated the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Psidium guajava leaves extracted by maceration using acetone, methanol, aqueous acetone, and aqueous methanol. The leaf extracts contained alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, caryophyllene, and eucalyptol, and exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, with the acetone extract showing the strongest antioxidant activity.

?Dewage et al., 2023 investigated the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and photoprotective activities of Psidium guajava leaves extracted by cold maceration using 99% methanol. The methanolic leaf extract, rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids, exhibited the highest total phenolic (662.24 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoid (18.63 mg QE/g) contents, strong DPPH radical scavenging activity, antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans, and excellent photoprotective activity (SPF 30.38), highlighting its potential as a natural sunscreen ingredient.

?Mota et al., 2019 investigated the photoprotective activity of Psidium guajava leaves using a hydroalcoholic leaf extract. The extract, rich in flavonoids and tannins, enhanced the SPF of a sunscreen formulation containing 7.5% ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate from 7.5 to 8.1, demonstrating antioxidant and UV-protective potential as a natural sunscreen additive.

?Milani et al., 2018 investigated the photoprotective potential of Psidium guajava fruit byproducts (peel and pomace) extracted by percolation following 24 h maceration using 50% hydroethanolic solvent (water, 1:1). The extract was standardized in ellagic acid by HPLC and contained phenols, flavonoids, and ellagic acid, exhibiting significant antioxidant activity and enhancing the SPF of a cosmetic formulation by 17.99% through synergism with ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, demonstrating its potential as a natural photoprotective ingredient.

?.,Araújo et al 2015 investigated the antioxidant activity of Psidium guajava fruits at different maturation stages. Fruit pulp was extracted with water followed by methanol fractionation to obtain methanolic fractions. HPLC analysis identified gallic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, epicatechin, rutin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, quercetin, kaempferol, tocopherol β-carotene, and lycopene. The extracts exhibited significant antioxidant activity, with mature fruits showing the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity and immature fruits showing the strongest Fe²? chelating activity.

?Rizzo et al., 2014 investigated the anticancer activity of Psidium guajava leaves extracted with dichloromethane and ethanol. The dichloromethane leaf extract showed stronger antiproliferative activity than the ethanolic extract against multiple cancer cell lines. Fractionation identified guajadial, psidial A, and psiguadials A and B as major meroterpenoids, with guajadial exhibiting significant antiproliferative and antimigratory effects against lung and breast cancer cells.

ROOT:

?Butt et al., 2025 reviewed the therapeutic potential of Psidium guajava and summarized previous studies on its roots, leaves, bark, and fruits. Regarding the roots, the review highlighted their traditional medicinal use but did not report any specific experimental study, extraction method, extraction solvent, or root-specific phytochemical constituents. The review noted that P. guajava is generally rich in flavonoids (quercetin, catechin, rutin), polyphenols, tannins, gallic acid, and other bioactive compounds, which contribute to its antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, and antimicrobial activities.

?Kareem and Kadhim et al., 2024 reviewed the phytochemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Psidium guajava. Regarding the roots, the review reported that root extracts exhibited hepatoprotective activity against castor oil-induced liver damage in rats, supporting their traditional ethnomedicinal use. However, the review did not specify the extraction method, extraction solvent, or phytochemical constituents responsible for the activity in the root extract. Overall, P. guajava is rich in flavonoids, tannins, polyphenols, triterpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, steroids, vitamins, and essential oils, although these phytochemicals are mainly reported from the leaves, fruits, bark, and seeds rather than the roots.

?Joshi et al., 2023 reviewed the medicinal properties of Psidium guajava and reported that the roots are traditionally used to treat reflux, cough, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, constipation, and toothache. The review identified major phytochemicals in P. guajava, including flavonoids, quercetin, rutin, α-terpineol, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, oleanolic acid, tannins, ellagic acid, β-sitosterol, and ursolic acid; however, no root-specific extraction method, extraction solvent, or phytochemical analysis was reported.

?Daswani et al., 2017 reviewed the ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological activities of Psidium guajava and reported that the roots are traditionally used to treat diarrhea in sheep and goats. However, the review did not specify the extraction method, extraction solvent, or root-specific phytochemical constituents. Overall, P. guajava is recognized for its broad antimicrobial, antidiarrheal, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and anticancer properties, although these activities are mainly attributed to studies on the leaves, bark, and fruits rather than the roots.

?Shoba and Thomas et al., 2014 investigated the antidiarrhoeal activity of Psidium guajava root-bark using a cold maceration extraction method. The powdered root-bark was defatted with n-hexane and extracted with methanol. In the castor oil-induced gastrointestinal motility model in Swiss albino mice, the methanolic root-bark extract (7.5 and 15 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.001) reduced intestinal motility, confirming its antidiarrhoeal potential. The activity was attributed mainly to the plant's astringent property and the presence of quercetin, although the active root-bark phytochemical(s) were not specifically identified.

?Fasola et al., 2011 investigated the chemical composition, toxicity, and antioxidant activity of Psidium guajava stem bark essential oil. Fresh stem bark was subjected to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus, and the essential oil was analyzed by GC–MS. A total of 62 compounds were identified, with 3,6-dioxa-2,4,5,7-tetraoctane,2,2,4,4,5,5,7,7-octamethyl, cyclononane, pyridazin-3(2H)-one derivatives, and tetramethyldecane as the major constituents. The essential oil exhibited strong antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay and showed toxicity in the brine shrimp lethality test (LC?? = 1.0009 µg/mL), indicating the presence of biologically active secondary metabolites.

SEED:

?Zhang et al., 2024 investigated the protective effect of Psidium guajava seed oil against DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. Seed oil was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and found to be rich in linoleic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid (87.39% total fatty acids). Oral administration (200 and 400 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced inflammation, restored intestinal barrier function, improved gut microbiota, and increased short-chain fatty acid production, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of guava seed oil for colitis.

?Joshi et al., 2023 reviewed the medicinal potential of Psidium guajava seeds, reporting the presence of flavonoids, quercetin, ellagic acid, tannins, β-sitosterol, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, and other polyphenols, which are responsible for antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer activities; no specific extraction method or solvent was described.

?Lin and Lin, 2021 investigated the anticancer activity of Psidium guajava seeds by isolating guava seed polysaccharides (GSPS) using Sepharose 6B gel filtration chromatography. The active proteopolysaccharide fraction (GSF3), rich in glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, galactose, glucose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, fucose, and rhamnose, significantly inhibited PC-3 prostate cancer cell growth by increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and Fas expression, demonstrating potent immunomodulatory and pro-apoptotic activity.

?Shabbir et al., 2020 evaluated the antidiabetic activity of Psidium guajava seed polyphenol extract. Seeds were extracted by ultrasound-assisted maceration using 80% methanol. The extract contained polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and antioxidants. Oral administration (200–250 mg/kg) to diabetic rats reduced blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL, while improving HDL and hematological parameters. The activity was mainly attributed to polyphenols, although the seed extract was less effective than guava pulp and leaf extracts.

?Prommaban et al., 2020 investigated the antioxidant and nutraceutical potential of Psidium guajava seed oil extracted from seeds by Soxhlet extraction using n-hexane. The oil was rich in linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, chlorogenic acid, catechin, quercetin, isoquercetin, ellagic acid, and eriodictyol. The extract exhibited strong free-radical scavenging, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and lipid-modulating activities, highlighting its potential as a functional food ingredient.

?Nelson et al., 2019 investigated the anticancer activity of Psidium guajava seeds using methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts. The seed extracts showed significant cytotoxicity against A549 lung cancer cells, with IC?? values of 61.01 and 60.21 µg/mL, respectively. The study demonstrated the anticancer potential of guava seed extracts, although specific phytochemical constituents were not identified.

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