Phytochemical Composition and Pleotropic Pharmacological Properties of Jamun, Syzygium Cumini Skeels

Abstract

Plants have been employed as medicine since time immemorial, and there has been a recent resurgence in the use of plants as medicines due to their little or no toxicity at the doses used for treatment of different ailments. This review discusses in detail the phytochemical and pharmacological activities of Jamun (Syzygium cumini), a tree belonging to family Myrtaceae, which has been credited with several medicinal properties in the traditional system of medicine, the Ayurveda. The different properties attributed to Jamun are sweet, sour, astringent, acrid, refrigerant, carminative, diuretic, and digestive. Research and practical use in traditional medicinal systems have found Jamun to be effective in treating leucorrhoea, gastric disorders, fever, diabetes, piles, stomachache, wounds, and dental, digestive and skin disorders. Some compounds in Jamun have antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiallergic, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, anticancer, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective and radioprotective activity. Finally, Jamun has been found to contain phytochemicals including anthroquinones, alkaloids, catechins, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, phenols, tannins, saponins and cardiac glycosides. The diverse activities of Jamun may be due to its abilities to scavenge free radicals, increase antioxidant status of cells by increasing glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and/or superoxide dismutase, and to attenuate lipid peroxidation. In addition, it also suppresses the transcription of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, Nuclear factor kappa B, cyclooxygenase, inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor alpha and other proinflammatory cytokines, accompanied by the up-regulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 transcription, which is involved in regulating the antioxidant status of the cells.

A review on the role of jamun, syzygium cumini skeels in the treatment of diabetes

“…Jamun is a rapidly growing tree, which is 100 feet tall and start fruiting in summer. 10,11 The fruits are produced in clusters and each cluster consists of a few to 10 or 40 fruits. Jamun fruits are round to oblong in shape and 1/2 to 2" long ( Figure 1).…”

“…The Jamun fruits are green coloured and turns from light to dark purple or even black after ripening. 10,11 Their taste is sweetish sour and eating of Jamun fruits makes the tongue purple. The other names of Jamun are Indian blackberry, black plum, Duhat Jambu, Jaman, Jambul, Jambool, Java plum, Portuguese or Malabar plum.…”

“…12,13 Jamun has several beneficial effects on many ailments. 11 Despite this fact, Jamun may have some adverse effects, if eaten in excess or during certain conditions. Since it lowers blood sugar, it should be avoided before one week and a minimum of two weeks after surgery as it may have adverse effect on healing.…”

Anticancer potential of Mimosa Pudica Linn. Lajwanti in cultured dalton’s ascites lymphoma cells

“…8,9 The most important of these biologically active constituents of plants are alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids and phenolic compounds. [10][11][12] The Mimosa pudica (Lajwanti) or Chui Mui is a creeper belonging to family Fabaceae. Ayurveda describes Lajwanti as tikta (bitter), kashaya (astringent) and sheetha (cold) in nature.…”

The Phytochemical and Thin Layer Chromatograhy Profile of Ethnomedcinal Plant Helicia Nilagirica (Bedd)

“…Even with a remarkable progress made in synthetic drugs in modern medicine, therapies using medicinal plants still make a major contribution to the pharmaceutical industry because of their safety, easy availability, and cost effectiveness. They also have synergistic effect with other biologically active ingredients due to the presence of beneficial minerals [11,12].…”