Anti-Inflammatory Effects of an Aqueous Extract of Blended Leaves of Mangifera indica and Psidium guajava

Abstract

Inflammation occurs in many acute and chronic diseases, and the adverse effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids have prompted researchers to seek alternative therapies from botanical sources. Mangifera indica L. and Psidium guajava L. are two of the most widely distributed tropical fruit trees, and their leaves have traditionally been used in Asian, African, and Latin American systems of medicine to manage pain, fever, ulcers, and inflammatory conditions. The present study aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory properties of aqueous leaf extracts of M. indica and P. guajava using carrageenan- and albumin-induced oedema assays in rats. The results suggested that both extracts inhibited acute inflammatory responses in a dose-dependent manner and exhibited significant analgesic and anti-oedematous effects. Overall, the findings indicate that aqueous leaf extracts of M. indica and P. guajava may have potential as traditional remedies for managing inflammation and related disorders. These effects may be attributed to abundant polyphenolic constituents, including mangiferin, quercetin, gallic acid, and related flavonoids and tannins, which can modulate inflammatory pathways by scavenging free radicals and inhibiting NF-κB, COX-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Because other combined polyherbal leaf extracts containing Psidium guajava and additional plant species have demonstrated efficacy, a blended aqueous extract of Mangifera indica and Psidium guajava leaves may produce enhanced anti-inflammatory effects through additive or synergistic interactions. This review compiles information on the botany, traditional applications, phytochemistry, and anti-inflammatory properties of each plant, discusses the rationale for combining them, and provides an overview of the limited but emerging evidence on the pharmacology of the combination. Moreover, this work identifies research gaps concerning the combined aqueous leaf extract of Mangifera indica and Psidium guajava and highlights the need for standardized pharmacological and toxicological investigations.