Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston (Rose Apple): A Review of its Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Abstract

Syzygium jambos L. Alston (Myrtaceae), commonly known as “pomarrosa”, “jambolero”, “rose apple”, “yambo”, among others, is a wild species found in Asia and America. It grows on the western slopes of northern Peru in rocky or stony and moderately sub-xerophytic environments at altitudes ranging from 1,500 to 2,200 meters above sea level. The objective of this review is to compile scientific information on S. jambos, focusing on its phytochemistry as a potential source of novel bioactive compounds and its therapeutic applications. The literature search was conducted using electronic databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed Central, and the Google Scholar search engine. A total of 33 documents in English and Spanish were selected. A bibliographic review of S. jambos reveals that this plant species is rarely utilized in traditional medicine. However, further research is required to explore its phytochemistry as a potential source of novel bioactive compounds, as well as its pharmacological properties, contemporary applications, and toxicological profile with scientific validation. The collected data indicate its efficacy in various in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antinociceptive, antipyretic, antispasmodic, antithrombotic, apoptotic, cardiovascular, chemomodulatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and memory-enhancing effects. Despite the diversity of pharmacological activities of S. jambos, further studies on clinical assays and the development of formulations must be carried out. Hence, S. jambos has emerged as a valuable source in traditional medicine and provides a significant foundation in pharmaceutical biology for the development and formulation of new drugs and future clinical applications.