Amazing health benefits of GUAVA(AMRUD) fruit and leaves

 

                  AMRUD (GUAVA)

Guava which is commonly known as Amrud, is a fruit with a sweet and a slight astringent taste. It is a small tree belonging to the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). Native to tropical areas from southern Mexico to northern South America, guava trees have been grown by many other countries having tropical and subtropical climates.

It has anti-oxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, Anti-diarrhoeal, Anti-hypotensive, Analgesic & Anti-hypertensive, Antifungal, Antipyretic property.

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It has different names in different languages such as in English(Guava), Marathi(Jamba, Jambh, Peru), Hindi(Amrood), Gujarati(Jamrud, Jamrukh, Peru), Kannada(Gova, Jamaphala, Perala, Sibi, Sebehabbu), Bengali(Goaachhi, peyara),  Malayalam(Pera, Koyya), Tamil(Koyya, Segappugoyya, Sengoyya, Vellaikoyya, Uyyakkondan), Telugu(Jama), Oriya(Bodojamo, Jamo, Julabojamo, Pijuli), Sanskrit( amrutaphalam, maduphalam, peruka, bahubeej).

Guava fruit discription 

Guava fruit generally have a pronounced and  typical fragrance. Guava pulp may be  sweet  or  sour, tasting something between pear and strawberry, off-white ("white" guavas)  to  deep pink ("red" guavas), with the seeds in the central pulp of variable number and hardness, depending on species. The fruits are fleshy, sweet and emanate a slight but  pleasant odor. 

Vitamin and mineral content 

Vitamin : B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, C, K, A

Mineral : Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Podium, Zinc, copper

• It has more vitamin C than the orange. 

• Guava contains a large number of antioxidants and phytochemicals including essential oils, polysaccharides, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, and triterpenoid acid alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids and saponins. 

                 - Guava contains a higher content of vitamin C and vitamin A. 

                 - Guava is also a very good source of the pectin which is an important dietary fiber.

                 - It has high content of flavonoids, fructose sugar and carotenoids.

                 - There are 41 hydrocarbons 25 esters, 13 alcohols and 9 aromatic compounds in guava

• The strong pleasant smell of fruit is credited to the carbonyl compounds.

• Guava fruit contains terpenes, caryophyllene oxide and p-selinene in large quantity which produce relaxation effects.

                 - The skin of fruit contains ascorbic acid in very high amount; however, it may be destroyed by heat.

                 - Ascorbic acid and citric acid are the major ingredients of guava that play important role in anti-mutagenic activity.

                 - The fruit contains saponin, oleanolic acid, lyxopyranoside, arabopyranoside, guaijavarin, quercetin and flavonoids.

• Essential oil is present in leaves which contain α-pinene, limonene, β-pinene, isopropyl alcohol, menthol, terpenyl acetate, caryophyllene, longicyclene and β-bisabolene. Leaves of guava have a lot of volatile compounds.

                 - Oleanolic acid is also found in the guava leaves. Leaves have high content of limonene about 42.1% and caryophyllene about 21.3%. 

• The bark includes 12–30% of tannin and polyphenols, crystals of calcium oxalate. 

                - Tannin is also present in roots. Leukocyanidins, gallic acid and sterols are also present in roots. Carbohydrates with salts are present in abundance. Tannic acid is also its part.

Benefits, uses and application

1) It is used as food and in the preparation of food products. It is also used in house construction and toys making.

2) Guava leaves has great medicinal properties and use in the treatment of various illness.

3) Drinking guava leaves juice, is one of the best way to Lowering Cholesterol, Lowering Blood-Sugar Levels and Preventing Type2 Diabetes.

                   - When guava is eaten, the dietary fiber present in it enters the body, binds to bile acid and excretes it out of the body. Now, bile acid is required by the body for the digestion of fat. To produce this bile acid, the body uses cholesterol, which is present in the body. Because cholesterol is being used for the synthesis of bile acid, its concentration in the blood decreases and hence, the overall blood cholesterol level is reduced.

4) Take unripe guava. Cut it and apply sendha namak and roast. Eat this roasted guava to treat cough. OR. Take few leaves of guava. Clean them properly and crush them in mortar and pestle and made paste. Add in glass of water and boil till water reduces to 1/4 of initial amount, filter and drink it is lukewarm.

5) Guava leaves imparts anti-stress effects. Drink herbal tea of guava leaves(Add some guava leaves in cup of water reduce half and then drink).

6) Chewing leaf is a common remedy for upset stomach, gum bleeding, bad breath, mouth ulceretc. 

7) Guava leaves decoction or infusion is useful in treating fever, spasm and rheumatism.

8) For Diarrhoea, dysentery, colitis and stomach pain : Take fresh Guava leaves , crush them in mortar and pestle. Boil water, add this crushed leaves and dry ginger powder. Cook till water reduces to 1/4th of initial volume. Filter and drink one cup of this decoction, every three to four hours.     Bark decoction is also very good diarrhoea.

               - Drink infusion of bark or eat bark powder(3-5 grams) with water, 2-4 times a day. This is very good remedy for mild food poisoning, hyperacidity, anal itching and indigestion.

   > Guava leaves have quercetin-3-arabinoside and quercetin which can be isolated from leaves. Its leaves contain a compound which has morphine like action. It controls the muscular tone. Quercetin repressed intestinal contraction encouraged by enhanced absorption of calcium. Quercetin has a strong effect on ileum. It is thought that quercetin in guava leaf are responsible for its spasmolytic activity. Guava has high cytotoxicity. Guava can be used to treat the diarrhea caused by the E. coli or S. aureus toxins.

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9) For Fever : Boil the water, add giloy (Gaduchi) steam, few Gauva leaves and 2-3 Tulsi leaves, reduce it to 1/4th of initial and drink it when it is luke warm. This preparation also improve liver function.  OR. Drink fresh Guava leaf juice.

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                   Click here for more information about Tulsi(Basil)

10) For Gum problems, tooth ache and Bad breath : Boil water add some leaves of crushed gauva leaves, sendhwa namak(or salt) and clove(Laung) oil or eucalyptus oil. Boil this mixture for 2-3 minutes. Gargle this mixture 2-3 times a day when it is luke warm.  It's antibacterial, antiviral properties helps to get rid of such problems.

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11) Tree bark decoction and poultice(paste made of herbs, plants, and other substances with healing properties. The paste is spread on a warm, moist cloth and applied to the body to relieve inflammation and promote healing) is very good remedy for ulcer wound or normal wounds. It's astringent, antibacterial, antiinflammatory property helps cure wounds.

                 > Guava leaves decoction has an astringent (tends to constrict body tissues), antimicrobial, antiviral and antiseptic (controls growth of infection causing microorganisms) activities. Due to these action this decoction can be used externally to wash infections and kill bacteria.

12) For pimples and acne, apply paste of leaves and water preparation on face.

13) Fresh guava leaves paste is applied on painful joints to reduce swelling and pain.

                      - Guava can alter the heme oxygenase-1 protein’s(play role in inflammation) work. And due to this reason, it can be used as anti-inflammatory agent for skin.

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14) As per ayurveda, consuming Guava friut helps to strengthen the heart and immunity.

                   - According to modern science, Guava leaf extract might be beneficial in the management of atherosclerosis. This is due to the presence of ethyl gallate and quercetin in Guava.

15)  Guava juice is an effective remedy to treat dengue fever. It is recommended to drink the guava juice at least three times in a day for effective results. 

16) It reduces all types of doshas such Tridosha(Tridosha nashak).

17) Guava flowers have been used to treat bronchitis, eye sores  and  to  cool  the  body. 

18) Because of its high level of pectin, guavas are extensively used to make candies, preserves, jellies, jams, and marmalades.

Note : 1) If diabetic person want eat or drink guava fruit, then they have to reduce or cut their other carbohydrates content that they take.  With this it's high content of dietary fiber reduce or maintain sugar level. Pls consult doctor before use. 

            2) While eating guava do not chew its seeds instead swallow as chewing reduces its laxative properties. And do not peel skin of guava.

            3) Pink guavas contain twice the amount of lycopene present in tomatoes. Lycopene is an antioxidant that protects our skin from being damaged by UV rays and environmental pollution.

 

            4) Overconsumption of guava may also cause bloating and flatulence. Hence eat limited and live long.

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Refrence : 

1) GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences 2017, 01(02), 013–019 ; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321446819_Phytochemical_analysis_and_antibacterial_activity_of_Psidium_guajava_L_leaf_extracts

2) International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2017 Apr; 18(4): 897. ; PMCID: PMC5412476

3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5628524/

4) The phytochemistry and medicinal value of Psidium guajava (guava) ; https://clinphytoscience.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40816-018-0093-8

5) A short review on a Nutritional Fruit : Guava ; December 2018Toxicology Research 1(1):1-8 ; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330702066_A_short_review_on_a_Nutritional_Fruit_Guava

6) Antimicrobial Activities of Leaf Extracts of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) on Two Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Bacteria ; https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijmicro/2013/746165/

7) sciencedirect.com

8) PUBMED

9) Wikipedia

10) Local tradition and knowledge

11) Sushruta Samhita

12) Charak Samhita

13) WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL RESEARCH ; wjpmr, 2019,5(3), 204-214 ; FRUITS IN CLASSICAL TEXTS OF AYURVEDA

14) Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 2018; 6(4): 44-47

15) Ayurvedacolleage.com

16) NCBI