Xiuying Zhao

Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Medicinal Plant Research, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 4   
Received: 15 Jun., 2024    Accepted: 23 Jul., 2024    Published: 06 Aug., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) is a subtropical fruit tree with significant medicinal value that has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine throughout history. Various parts of the loquat plant, including its leaves and fruits, contain numerous bioactive compounds that exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities. This study comprehensively summarizes the bioactive compounds found in loquat and elucidates their pharmacological mechanisms. Research indicates that the main bioactive compounds in loquat include phenolics, terpenes, kaempferol, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and quercetin, which possess strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antitumor, and antibacterial properties. The bioactive compounds in loquat can improve conditions such as diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and hyperlipidemia by inhibiting cytochrome P450 2E1, reducing oxidative stress, and regulating metabolic pathways. Additionally, studies have found that loquat leaves and fruits have high antioxidant capacities, which are closely related to their phenolic content. These findings highlight the potential of loquat as a source of bioactive compounds with significant health benefits. Further research into the bioavailability, metabolism, and toxicity of these compounds is crucial for fully realizing their therapeutic potential.

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.); Bioactive compounds; Phenolics; Terpenes; Pharmacological mechanisms; Traditional medicine