Guava Tree

Psidium guajava

Guava Tree Parts used Uses Habitat and cultivation Constituents How much to take

The guava is a shrub or small tree, usually up to 4 m in height. The bark peels off in flakes, revealing the characteristically smooth, pale-colored trunk and branches. The large leaves of guava have prominent veins and are borne opposite each other in pairs. Small white flowers, with numerous stamens develop into rounded or pear-shaped, yellow, many-seeded fruits. Guavas have pink or yellow fruit flesh, are delicious to eat and have a high vitamin C content.

PARTS USED

Fresh or dried leaves.

USES

Leaves of guava are commonly used in traditional medicine, mainly to treat gastrointestinal disorders (such as diarrhea) and diabetes, but also fever (including malaria), cough, ulcers, boils and wounds.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Guava is native to Central America. The guava has become naturalized in many parts of the world and is widely cultivated as a commercial fruit crop.

CONSTITUENTS

Guava leaf is rich in tannins (9-12%) and other phenolic compounds, of which amritoside (a glycoside -gentiobioside -of ellagic acid) is of particular interest. Another biologically interesting compound is guiajaverin, a glycoside (arabinopyroside) of quercetin. The leaves also contain 0.3% essential oils (with eugenol) and triterpenoids that may contribute to the overall medicinal activity.

HOW MUCH TO TAKE

Infusions of guava leaves are taken as tea. For severe diarrhea, the recommended dose is one crushed leaf in a litre of water.