Researchers in Nigeria have found that guava leaf, in combination with other herbs are useful for treating hypertension and other stroke-related maladies. Read the article here.

According to Indian folklore, “it is believed that the leaves of this plant [guava] can cure jaundice within three days” (305).  The use of guava leaves is reported to be widespread in the Mangalore district of Karnataka, in Southwest India, for the cure of jaundice.  Scientists in the area decided to verify the use of guava leaves for jaundice and other liver diseases by conducting a study on the hepatoprotective (liver protection) properties of guava leaves.

The study on the hepatoprotective effects of guava leaf extract was conducted at the Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy in Bangalore, India.  Researchers collected fresh leaves from guava trees in the Koramangala area in Bangalore.  They crushed them, and boiled the leaves in water for one hour.  They filtered out the solids, and evaporated the water, leaving a powdered guava leaf extract.  Rats were used as study subjects.

Analysis of the extract showed that it contained carbohydrates, tannins, flavanoids, saponins, steriods, protiens and amino acids.

Researchers found that the extract showed good liver protective activities; the effect produced by the higher doses of guava leaf extract (500mg/kg) was similar to that produced by Silymarin, a well-known hepatoprotective agnet.  Furthermore, the guava leaf extract prevented an increase in liver weight in rats, something Silymarin does not do.

“In conclusion,” the researchers stated, “the aqueous extract of Psidium guajava Linn. leaves [guava leaves] showed good hepatoprotective activity in CCI4 induced acute and chronic liver damage, PCM induced liver damage and TAA induced liver necrosis.  The hepatoprotective activity may be due to the antioxidant effect of the plant” (310).  In other words, guava leaves can help protect the liver.  Guava leaf tea or guava leaf extract seems to be able to help prevent damage, or help to treat damage already done.

For a link to the full article, please click here.

Tropical countries have been plagued with Malaria infection rates in their most vulnerable groups: young children and pregnant women. Africa has more than one million deaths per year and Nigeria has more than 75 per cent of its children under age ten infected.

Anti-malarial drugs have been used for nearly 100 years, but the parasite has developed a resistance to drugs at an alarming rate. To counter these epidemics and drug-resistant strains, Nigerian researchers have developed herbal cocktail cures from local plants.

A typical cocktail consists of Morinda lucida, Nauclea latifolia, Cymbopogon citratus, pawpaw leaves, Moringa oleifera, Mangifera indica, bitter kola, and Psidium guajava,”

said the developers, plant taxonomist at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and Ebonyi State University, and Professor Jonathan Okafor. Using their common names, these local ingredients are brimstone tree, leaves of ubulu inu, lemon grass, male papaya leaves, drumstick tree leaves, mango leaves and bark, bitter cola and guava.

See the full article here at the Nigerian Tribune