Lokāt (Eriobotrya japonica; family: Rosaceae): Nutritional and Medicinal Properties, in the Light of Unani Medicine and Scientific Studies

Eriobotrya japonica Lind. (Family: Rosaceae) named as loquat, is a subtropical fruit, which is well known medicinal plant cultivated in Japan and China. Various parts, like leaves, peels and fruits have been shown to possess various useful health benefits. In Unani medicine, it is vastly utilized in many illnesses, like fevers, nausea, de-arranged sanguinous humour (diseases due to morbidity of blood), indigestion, liver diseases, vomiting, dysentery, wounds, inflammations etc. Loquat plant contains many active constituents, such as glycosides, flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds, tannin etc. and nutritional and mineral compounds like, carotenoids, vitamins, starch, amino acids, sugar and others. According to various pharmacological studies it is found that the plant has many biological effects like antitussive, anti-melanogenic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, kidney protective, hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic activity. This review aims to shed light on the therapeutic applications of loquat based on both traditional Unani literature and scientific studies conducted on different parts of the plant.