Therapeutic Prospects and Bioactive Constituents of Syzygium laetum from the Southern Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot

Abstract

Syzygium is one of the larger generic groups in the Myrtaceae family. Phytochemicals from the Syzygium genus have attracted the interest of humans for centuries due to their multifaceted applications. The plants have a diverse range of biological activities. including, antioxidant, antihypoglycemic, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, cardioprotective, antidiarrhoeal, diuretic, hypothermic, and antihypertensive properties. The Syzygium laetum is an endemic tree of the family Myrtaceae, growing in the Western Ghats, especially in evergreen forests. There have been no reports on the pharmacological potential of S. laetum. The purpose of this study was to search into the possible benefits of S. laetum leaves and bark. The pharmacological characterization of the plants uncovers the possible medicinal properties of S. laetum. Methanol extract of S. laetum leaves and bark contain a high concentration of total phenolics and flavonoids. Methanol and distilled water extracts of the leaves and bark have higher antioxidant capacity than chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts. Alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibition activity were found to be significant in the anti-diabetic study. The results of the physicochemical studies on S. laetum are extremely crucial in assessing the freshness and quality of the crude drug. The methanol extracts of the plant confirmed that both the leaves and bark have substantial antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties. Phytochemical analysis reveals the existence of several pharmacologically active bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, phenolics, carbohydrates, essential oil, reducing sugar, and saponins, and that might be responsible for its bioactivity. S. laetum, leaves, and bark demonstrate a broad spectrum of activity throughout all bioactivities evaluated.

Keywords: Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Fluorescence analysis, Physicochemical, Powder microscopy, Syzygium laetum.