Bioactive Compounds of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) L.)

Abstract

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.) is a subtropical fruit. China and Spain are the major producers of loquat. It is grown in a wide range of climatic conditions from tropical to temperate, and loquat is consumed as whole fruit as well as in the different processed forms. It is nutritionally rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, organic acids, and minerals. Loquat is a prominent source of various bioactive compounds including phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, and triterpenoids which exhibit different biological roles such as antioxidant, antiviral, antitumor, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antimutagenic, and hypolipidemic activities. In vitro and in vivo studies showed potential health benefits of loquat in mice and several cell lines. However, there is a need of further investigation to correlate the bioactive compounds with the biological activities for better understanding. In this chapter, bioactive compounds of loquat and their biological activities have been summarized.