Department of Botany, Bioinformatics and climate Change Impacts Management, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
The Sapotaceae family, comprising around 1250 species across 53 genera. This review focuses on the extensive medicinal properties of Sapotaceae species, detailing their traditional applications, bioactive compounds and pharmacological effects. Notable species such as Madhuca longifolia, Chrysophyllum cainto, Pouteria mammosa, Manilkara zapota and Mimusops elengi are examined for their therapeutic benefits, which include antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and anticancer properties. The presence of bioactive compounds such as triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, phenolics and alkaloids enhances their medicinal value. This review emphasizes the importance as a promising source of natural therapeutics and calls for further pharmacological research and application.
The Sapotaceae family comprises flowering plants that are classified under the order Ericales. This family is divided into five tribes, encompassing 53 genera and approximately 1250 Species. Members of this family are primarily trees or shrubs, exhibiting a global distribution; however, the greatest diversity of species is observed in the tropical and subtropical areas of Asia and south America (Baky et al., 2016). Several species yield valuable timber, such seietenia macrophylla (asmahogany) and sapota (Manikara zapota L.). The Sapotaceace family of flowering plants is noted for its abundance of triterpenoid saponins, the sapotaceace family also known as the Miracle berry family is a group of tropical trees and shrubs that are ecologically and economically important. The family name is derived from zapote, a Mexican vernacular name for one of the plants (in turn derived from the nahuti tzapotl) and latinised by Linnaeus as sapota, a name now treated as a synonym of manilkara (also formerly known by the invalid name achras), latex of sapotaceae is a source of gutta-percha balata and chicle, either pure trans-polysioprene polymers or a mixture of cis and trans constituent (Britannica). The sapotaceae family is among the most abundant families in terms of triterpenoidal saponins, featuring compounds such as protobassic acid,16-α-hydroxyprotobassic acid aglycone, and various derivatives of oleanolic acid aglycone (Baky et al.,2022). The family is extensively distributed across tropical regions and includes species of significant economic value. Manilkara zapota yield chicle, which is utilized in the production of chewing gum, while several other species produce edible fruits, such as Chrysophyllum cainito (star-apple), Pouteria mimosa (mamey), and P. campechiana (canistel or egg-fruit). The mature fruits of certain sideroxylon species are also consumable, although they have not yet been economically utilized. Additonally, Chrysophyllum oliviforme and mimusops elengi are attractive tress frequently cultivated for ornamentals purposes (Bano, M., & Ahmed, B., 2017)
Traditional uses
1.Madhuca longifolia L.
Shaikh Sayma*, Trupesh Revad, Himanshu Pandya, Hitesh Solanki, Sapotaceae Family as A Source of Natural Therapeutics: A Review on Bioactive Compounds and Medicinal Potential, Int. J. Sci. R. Tech., 2025, 2 (4), 365-371. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15236653
10.5281/zenodo.15236653
