A review on bio-active compounds and medicinal strength of Jamun (Syzygium cumini Skeels)

Abstract

Jamun (Syzygium cumini Skeels) which is nature indigenous to India has been used as medicine for last hundred years in Unani and Ayurveda health system. Jamun is very effectively used long a traditional as a preventive measure in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, inflammation, ulcers and diarrhea and preclinical studies have also shown it to keep chemopreventive, Radioprotective and antineoplastic properties. The tree is a potential source of compounds comprising anthocyanins, glucoside, Ellagic acid, isoquercetin, Kaempferol and myrecetin. The presence of bioactive compounds comprising alkaloids, tannins, phenols, lipids, flavonoids in jamun leaves, barks, fruits, stems, and roots contribute to immense potential source of health beneficial nutrition and medicine. The active presence of these compounds sustains pharmacological effects with antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, central nervous system activity (CNS), chemo preventive, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic and hepatoprotective properties strong upon intake of jamun in human health and metabolism. The seeds are claimed to comprise alkaloid, Jambosine and glycoside Jambolin or antimellin, which halts the diastatic conversion of starch into sugar. Jamun is also profoundly known for its antidiabetic activity as it has been demonstrated to be the most promising nutraceutical value as reported by several research workers. Bioactive compounds are the result of involuntary developmental mechanism which may be due to specific requirement thus facilitating beneficial physiological processes there by promoting preventive mechanism for mitigating various disease and disorders of plant by mutualistic or antagonistic interaction with another organism.