Harnessing Psidium guajava (Guava) Leaf Phytochemicals: In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity and Implications for Alternative Therapies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66553/japr.2026.128Keywords:
Antimicrobial potential, Guava leaf extract, Psidium guajava, phytochemicalsAbstract
Psidium guajava, well known for its antimicrobial potential is alternative and effective substitutes for conventional antibiotics which is responsible for emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). P. guajava (guava) leaves are used as traditional medicine in treating various disorders. It is also an excellent source of bioactive substances such as flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, and terpenoids. In the present paper, the evolution of in vitro antimicrobial activity of P. guajava leaf extracts against important pathogenic microorganisms has been studied. The available literature shows that P. guajava leaves possess different amounts of antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Influencing antimicrobial efficacy are extraction solvent, concentration, phytochemical composition, and bacterial susceptibility. P. guajava leaves can thus be a natural source of antimicrobial elements, offering an alternative or additional option to antibiotics. Nonetheless, more research will need to be performed to optimize the extraction methodology, as well as to determine the usefulness of guava in antimicrobial therapy.
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