A detailed review on pharmacognosy, phytochemistry and medicinal properties of guava oil

Pavani Jorepalli; Bhargavi Manchikalapati; Prapurna Chandra Yadala

doi:10.37022/jpmhs.v8i4.151

Authors

Jorepalli Pavani IV-year B pharmacy, Ratnam Institute of Pharmacy, Pidathapolur (V&P), Muthukur (M), SPSR Nellore District -524 346.
Manchikalapati Bhargavi Department of Pharmacy Practice, Ratnam Institute of Pharmacy, Pidathapolur (V&P), Muthukur (M), SPSR Nellore District-524 346.
Yadala Prapurna Chandra Department of Pharmacology, Ratnam Institute of Pharmacy, Pidathpolur (V&P), Muthukur (M), SPSR Nellore District-524 346.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37022/jpmhs.v8i4.151

Abstract

Psidium guajava L., commonly known as guava, is a tropical evergreen plant of the Myrtaceae family, traditionally valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Native to Central America and Mexico, guava has spread across tropical and subtropical regions due to its adaptability and health benefits. Various parts of the plant—including leaves, seeds, bark, and fruit—are rich in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, and phenolic acids, which contribute to its pharmacological potential. Guava essential oil, primarily extracted from leaves and seeds, exhibits diverse therapeutic activities including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wound healing, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective effects. Extraction methods such as steam distillation, cold pressing, solvent extraction, and supercritical CO₂ extraction influence oil yield, composition, and quality. Recent advancements in green chemistry approaches—ultrasound-, microwave-, and enzyme-assisted extraction—enhance oil recovery while maintaining ecological sustainability. Phytochemical analyses using GC-MS and HPLC have identified key constituents including β-caryophyllene, limonene, nerolidol, and eucalyptol, responsible for the oils, aroma and biological efficacy. Guava oil finds applications in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and traditional medicine, supporting digestive health, metabolic balance, skin regeneration, and management of chronic diseases. The rich ethnomedicinal history combined with modern scientific validation underscores guava oil as a multifunctional natural product with considerable therapeutic and industrial significance.

Keywords: Psidium guajava, guava oil, essential oil, phytochemicals, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, green extraction.

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