Jambu
Syzygium cumini
Jambu (Syzygium cumini) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Ellagic acid has poor oral bioavailability (~1-2%) due to low solubility; metabolized by gut microbiota to urolithins which are well absorbed. Anthocyanins in fruit pulp have ~1-2% bioavailability.
| Botanical name | Syzygium cumini |
|---|---|
| Family | Myrtaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Myrtales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 3183840 · Wikidata Q232571 · NCBI Taxonomy 260142 |
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Jambu |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Kashaya, Madhura | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Ruksha | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Sheeta | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (seed powder), Tablet, Capsule, Kashayam (bark decoction), Asava/Arishta (fermented preparation), Swarasa (fruit juice)
Standard Dosage: 3-6g seed powder twice daily; 500mg-1g extract; 50-100ml bark decoction; 20-40ml fruit juice
Bioavailability: Syzygium cumini (Java plum) seed contains mycaminose, jamboline, and ellagic acid. Ellagic acid has poor oral bioavailability (~1-2%) due to low solubility; metabolized by gut microbiota to urolithins which are well absorbed. Anthocyanins in fruit pulp have ~1-2% bioavailability. Seed extract hypoglycemic components (jamboline) show moderate absorption. Nanoparticle formulations of seed extract show enhanced bioavailability.
Optimal Timing: Before meals for blood sugar support; seed powder with water 30 minutes before meals
Standardized Extract: Seed aqueous extract standardized to 20% tannins (as gallic acid equivalent); hydroalcoholic seed extract standardized to 1% ellagic acid and 10% total polyphenols
Shelf Life: 2 years (seed powder); 3 years (standardized extract capsule/tablet); 6 months (fruit juice, preserved)
Storage: Cool, dry place below 25°C. Seed powder in airtight containers. Fruit juice refrigerated.
Marker Compounds: Ellagic acid, Gallic acid, Jamboline, Mycaminose, Delphinidin-3,5-diglucoside (fruit), Beta-sitosterol, Oleanolic acid
Extraction Methods
- Aqueous extraction of seeds (traditional)
- Hydroalcoholic extraction (70% ethanol) of seeds
- Cold pressing of fruit for juice/pulp
- Ethyl acetate extraction for ellagic acid enrichment
- Spray-drying of aqueous extract for stable powder
Synergistic Combinations
- With Karela (bitter gourd) for blood sugar management
- With Gudmar (Gymnema) for anti-diabetic synergy
- With Amalaki for antioxidant enhancement
- With Haridra for metabolic syndrome support
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses1
- 2021. Ethnomedicinal Plants for the Management of Diabetes Worldwide: A Systematic ReviewCurrent medicinal chemistry. PMID 33475054 · doi:10.2174/0929867328666210121123037
Other clinical studies and reviews11
- 2025. Targeting diabetes with flavonoids from Indonesian medicinal plants: a review on mechanisms and drug discoveryNaunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology. PMID 40202673 · doi:10.1007/s00210-025-04139-2
- 2024. Family Myrtaceae: The treasure hidden in the complex/diverse compositionCritical reviews in food science and nutrition. PMID 36748791 · doi:10.1080/10408398.2023.2173720
- 2023. Exploring the Chemical and Biological Potential of Jamun (Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels) Leaves: A Comprehensive ReviewChemistry & biodiversity. PMID 37667613 · doi:10.1002/cbdv.202300479
- 2022. Astounding Health Benefits of Jamun (Syzygium cumini) toward Metabolic SyndromeMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 36364010 · doi:10.3390/molecules27217184
- 2022. Indian Indigenous Fruits as Radioprotective Agents: Past, Present and FutureAnti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry. PMID 34229590 · doi:10.2174/1871520621666210706124315
- 2018. Bioactive compounds and pharmacological and food applications of Syzygium cumini - a reviewFood & function. PMID 30379170 · doi:10.1039/c8fo00654g
- 2013. Pharmacological potentials of Syzygium cumini: a reviewJournal of the science of food and agriculture. PMID 23460190 · doi:10.1002/jsfa.6111
- 2013. Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels., a novel therapeutic agent for diabetes: folk medicinal and pharmacological evidencesComplementary therapies in medicine. PMID 23642956 · doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2013.03.004
- 2013. Scientific validation of the antidiabetic effects of Syzygium jambolanum DC (black plum), a traditional medicinal plant of IndiaJournal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.). PMID 23030429 · doi:10.1089/acm.2011.0752
- 2010. Syzygium cumini extract decrease adenosine deaminase, 5'nucleotidase activities and oxidative damage in platelets of diabetic patientsCellular physiology and biochemistry : international journal of experimental cellular physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology. PMID 21063110 · doi:10.1159/000322340
- 2009. Syzygium cumini inhibits adenosine deaminase activity and reduces glucose levels in hyperglycemic patientsFundamental & clinical pharmacology. PMID 19709327 · doi:10.1111/j.1472-8206.2009.00700.x
Available from Age Ayurveda
This encyclopedia is published by Age Ayurveda. The products below are ours, and are listed here because they contain or use what this page describes.
Sugar FormulaTraditionally used to support healthy carbohydrate metabolism.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.