Guava (Psidium guajava) is a well known tropical tree which is widely grown for its fruits. This amazing tree has about 133 genera and more than 3800 species. It is an evergreen shrub-like tree which can grow to the height of 25 feet or less. At maturity, the plant produces white flowers, followed by fruits. The fruit of a guava is usually oval in shape and contains numerous seeds, which pale yellow in color and hard to chew. The fruits are green in color when it is still unripe but turns yellow when ripened.
Every part of the guava plant is used in traditional medicine due to its numerous bioactive compounds. This is why guava is not only consumed for its nutritional properties and sweet taste, but also as an alternative medicinal plant.
Phytochemical Composition of Psidium guajava
Guava leaves consist of several bioactive compounds such as quercetin, kaempferol, gallic acid, catechin, guaijaverin, hyperin, myricetin, caffeic acid, epigallo catechin, isoquercetin, licopene, chlorogenic acid, etc.
Guava leaves also contain vitamins B5, B6 and C. the mineral contents include calcium, sulfur, potassium, iron, boron, magnesium and manganese.
Health Benefits of Guava Leaf Tea
The bioactive compounds and mineral contents of guava leaf tea make it a good candidate in ethnomedicine for the treatment of various ailments. We shall discuss some of these health complications in details shortly.
Guava Leaf tea May Help Lower Your Cholesterol Level
Guava leaf tea are well equipped with bioactive compounds that reduce serum triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins and total cholesterol, while increasing the serum level of high density lipoproteins. The increase in high density lipoproteins reduces your risk of cardiac arrest due to atherosclerosis by clearing plaques formed on the blood vessels due to low density lipoproteins.
For person with belly fat, drinking guava leaf tea would just be what you need to flatten your belly and clear your blood of bad cholesterol. You may also drink watercress juice alongside guava leaf tea.
Guava Leaves Are Remedy For Obesity
Guava leaves contain compounds that prevent obesity and enhance glucose clearance. They also prevent body weight gain, reduce adipose tissue weight and prevent the formation of a fatty liver.
May Prevent The Onset Of Diabetes
Diabetes is a major chronic disease that affects about 10% of the world’s population. It is a glucose metabolic disorder that is characterized by a hyperglycemic condition. Diabetes can occur as a result of the inability of the pancreas to secret enough insulin for the transport of glucose to various parts of the body. This health condition is termed type 1 diabetes mellitus. In another case, the pancreas secretes insulin but the cells of the body do not recognize it, thereby resisting glucose transport by the insulin. This diabetic condition is termed type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Guava leaves have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment diabetes mellitus. The leaf extract contains bioactive compounds such as guaijaverin and avicularin flavoloids, which are associated with significant improvement in the function of the β-cells of pancreatic islets and hepatocyte morphology in experimental diabetic rats. In that study, guaijaverin suppressed the activity of the blood glucose homeostasis enzyme, dipeptidyl-peptidase IV while avicularin inhibited intracellular lipid aggregation by suppressing glucose uptake.
Guava Leaves Contains Strong Antioxidants
Free radicals produced during metabolic processes are the main cause of several ailments in human body and early ageing process. But guava leaves contain sufficient amount of antioxidants which reduce the number of free radicals in the body, and minimizes the harmful effects of free radicals.
Due to the high presence of antioxidants present in guava leaves, the extracts of guava leaves can be used as antioxidant material in food preservation and cosmetic industries.
Guava Leaves Are Used In Treating Diarrhea
Diarrhea is one of the prominent causes of death among children, especially in developing nations. It is characterized by dehydration and constant watery stool. The good news about diarrhea is that guava leaf extract has shone the green light as an effective alternative medicine for diarrhea, as it effectively reduces the diarrhea symptoms such as secretion of interstitial fluid, and wetness of fecal droppings.
Guava leaves solidify stools and increase stool weight and stool consistency, thereby suppressing dehydration associated with diarrhea and which is the common mechanism of mortality due to diarrhea.
So when next you experience diarrhea, take some fresh guava leaves, wash and chew for immediate relief.
May Boost Your Immunity
Guava leaves contains several bioactive compounds that kill bacteria and other microorganisms. Beyond this, they boost the immune system and inhibit autoimmune diseases.
May prevent Viral Infection
Studies showed that guava leaves may be used as alternative medicine for treating viral infections such as influenza virus. In another study, guava leaf extracts inhibited Newcastle disease virus. The antiviral properties of guava leaves is carried out in broad spectrum; making it hard for viruses to develop resistance against the leaf extracts.
They May Help In Treating Acne
Guava leaves are packed with vitamins and antioxidants that protect the skin from aging and improve skin tone and texture. The antibacterial bioactive constituents in the leaves kill the acne causing bacteria and remove black spots on the skin, thereby giving your skin an unblemished appearance.
Guava Leaf tea May Help In Treating Dangue Fever
The flavoloids, quercetin and tannins which are present in guava leaf extract have the ability to inhibit the activity of the reverse transcriptase enzyme. This means that guava leaf extract could inhibit RNA core viruses.
The leaf extract or guava leaf tea may be applied in the treatment of dangue fever.
Guava Leaf Tea May Improve Quality Of Sleep
Guava leaf tea calms the nerve and quieting your mind. This makes it easier to fall asleep. You can make a guava leaf tea by boiling a handful of the fresh leaves in a kettle or pot with one liter of fresh filtered water for about 10 minutes. Allow to simmer for another 10 minutes for proper extraction of the bioactive components. Filter the liquid extract and drink. To add flavor to it, add ginger or Ashanti pepper fruits, a spoonful of honey to taste.
May Help Stop Hair Loss And Cure Dandruff
The antimicrobial compounds in guava leaves kill the dandruff causing fungi when you apply fresh leaf paste on your scalp, cover it with shower cap overnight and wash in the morning with mild shampoo and conditioner. The antioxidants and vitamins present in the leaf extract prevent hair fall and make your hair look stronger and shiny. If you want to use guava leaves to treat dandruff, the best thing to do is to add ewe laali leaves to it. In in fact, you can use ewe laali alone and still get the best result.
Guava Leaf Tea May Enhance Male And Female Fertility
According to studies conducted on female albino Wister rats, administration gave leaf extract improved the maternal weight of those pregnant rats in a dose dependent ratio. Another study showed increase in fetal weight, placenta weight and ovarian weight. This means that guava leaf tea may be very healthy for pregnant women.
For men with low sperm count, studies have shown that ethanol extract of guava leaf has beneficial effects on sperm production and quality. The aqueous extract was also shown in another study to boost testosterone production and that of other gonadotropin hormones, making the leaf extract a great remedy for men with fertility related complications. Like uziza (Psidium guajava) tea, bitter kola, and Snot apple, guava leaf tea will keep your erection strong and improve your fertility as a man or woman, while increasing your libido. A better way to improve your fertility and boost your libido is to a tea of both herbal leaves and uziza fruits.
REFERENCES
Abwage, S.A., Saganuwan, S.A., Agu, S.T. et al. Pro-fertility effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Psidium guajava leaves in female Wistar rats. ADV TRADIT MED (ADTM) (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-021-00579-2
Chollom, Solomon & G.O.A, Agada & Bot, David & Mark, Okolo & Dantong, David & Choji, Tobias & Echeonwu, Bobmanuel & Bigwan, Emmanuel & S, Lokason & E, Banwat. (2012). Phytochemical Analysis and Antiviral Potential of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Psidium guajava Against Newcastle Disease Virus in ovo. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science. 2. 045-049. 10.7324/JAPS.2012.21009.
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