CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF SECONDARY METABOLITES OF MEDICAL IMPORTANCE IN GUAVA PLANT (PSIDIUM GUAJAVA).
Background
The guava plant (Psidium guajava L.), belonging to the Myrtaceae family, is a tropical evergreen shrub widely recognized for its rich profile of secondary metabolites with significant medical importance, primarily concentrated in the leaves, fruit peel, bark, and roots (Kumar et al., 2021). These bioactive compounds include flavonoids such as quercetin, guaijaverin, kaempferol, and avicularin, which act as potent antioxidants by scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative stress associated with chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disorders (Huynh et al., 2025). Phenolic acids, including gallic acid, ellagic acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid, contribute to anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting enzymes like COX-2 and modulating cytokine production, supporting traditional applications in treating gastrointestinal issues, arthritis, and wound healing (Sahal, 2025). Tannins and saponins exhibit strong antimicrobial properties, disrupting bacterial cell membranes and inhibiting pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, aligning with guava’s historical use against infections and diarrhea (Al-Rimawi, 2025). Terpenoids, notably β-caryophyllene, limonene, and caryophyllene oxide, along with essential oils, demonstrate analgesic, anticancer, and antidiabetic activities through apoptosis induction in tumor cells, pain pathway modulation, and improved insulin sensitivity (Zou, 2023). The plant’s high ascorbic acid content further bolsters immune function and collagen synthesis, with synergistic interactions among these metabolites enhancing overall therapeutic efficacy (Butt, 2025).
Despite promising in vitro and preclinical evidence supporting antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer potentials, substantial research gaps limit the clinical translation of guava’s secondary metabolites (Ugbogu et al., 2022). A primary gap is the scarcity of large-scale, randomized controlled human clinical trials to validate efficacy, optimal dosing, long-term safety, and therapeutic outcomes, relying predominantly on animal models or observational studies (Tousif et al., 2022). Regional and cultivar-specific variations in metabolite composition influenced by environmental factors, soil, and cultivation practices remain underexplored, potentially overlooking superior chemotypes or standardized extracts for pharmaceutical development (Emam, 2025). The effects of extraction methods, processing techniques, and bioavailability enhancement on compound stability and absorption are inadequately investigated, hindering formulation of reliable nutraceuticals or drugs (Sahal, 2025). More to that synergistic mechanisms among compounds, potential drug interactions, toxicity profiles in diverse populations, and emerging applications, lack comprehensive study, as do metabolomics-driven insights into byproduct valorization (Huynh et al., 2025). Addressing these gaps through advanced clinical research, metabolomics, and interdisciplinary trials is crucial to bridge traditional uses with evidence-based medicine, fully realizing guava’s potential as a sustainable therapeutic resource.
REFERENCES
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