Antioxidative Activity of Psidium guajava Leaf Extract-A Review

Psidium guajava Linn. (Guava) family Myrtaceae is an important food crop plant used traditionally for medicinal purposes around the world. The pharmacological actions and the medicinal uses have demonstrated the ability of this plant to exhibit antioxidant, hepatoprotection, anti–allergy, antimicrobial, antigenotoxic, antiplasmodial, cytotoxic, antispasmodic, cardioactive, anticough, antidiabetic, antiinflamatory and antinociceptive activities, supporting its traditional uses. The important active constituents are essential oils, flavonoids, carotenoids, polyphenolic compounds, pentacyclic triterpenoids, esters, and aldehydes etc. This review explains the evidence–based information regarding the antioxidative activity of Psidium guajava.