Abstract

MORPHOLOGICAL HISTOLOGICAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTILIPIDIMIC ACTIVITY ON PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L

Vivek Kumar*, Kehar Singh Dhaker, Dr. Akhlesh Kumar Singhai

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Abstract

Psidium guajava L. (Guava) is a widely recognized medicinal plant traditionally used for treating various ailments, including metabolic disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacognostical, phytochemical, and pharmacological properties of P. guajava leaves collected from two different Ethiopian regions, Babile and Gursum. Morphological and histological analyses confirmed the identity of the plant, revealing typical anatomical features such as dorsiventral leaf structure, palisade parenchyma, and collenchyma beneath the epidermis. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of key bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, and saponins. Quantitative analysis showed that the Babile extract had higher total phenolic (33.71 ± 1.13 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid content (28.75 ± 1.14 mg QE/g) compared to the Gursum extract, indicating its stronger antioxidant potential. Pharmacological evaluation was conducted using Wistar albino rats divided into five groups: a control group, a high-fat diet (HFD) group, and three groups receiving HFD supplemented with P. guajava extract at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg doses. While food consumption remained consistent, calorie intake increased significantly in extract-treated groups. Notably, the 400 mg/kg extract group demonstrated a substantial reduction in serum triglycerides (142.4 ± 6.2 mg/dL), total cholesterol (161.7 ± 5.5 mg/dL), and LDL-c (98.6 ± 4.3 mg/dL), along with an improvement in HDL-c (49.1 ± 3.7 mg/dL) levels, compared to the HFD group. In conclusion, P. guajava leaf extract exhibits potent lipid-lowering and antioxidant activities, supporting its ethnomedicinal use for managing hyperlipidemia. Further studies, including clinical trials, are warranted to explore its therapeutic potential in human populations.

Keywords: Psidium guajava L., Guava, Wistar albino rats, Phytomedicines, Hyperlipidemia.