A REVIEW: PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF MANILKARA ZAPOTA PLANTS

Nature has blessed us with a wonderful diversity of flora and fauna that enriches and beautifies human life. Among these natural gifts is sapodilla, a sweet and nutritious fruit known for its pleasant taste and valuable medicinal properties. Sapodilla is recognized by different names across the world, such as Chikoo in India, Sapoti in Brazil, Lamoot in Thailand, Nesberry in the West Indies, and Sawu in Indonesia. Sapodilla is one of the major fruit crops cultivated in India and is an important member of the Sapotaceae family. The plant is rich in a wide range of phytoconstituents, including tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, steroids, glycosides, carbohydrates, amino acids, minerals, triterpenoids, and fixed oils. Several scientific studies have reported that sapodilla possesses numerous pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, and antidiarrheal effects. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the phytochemical composition and pharmacological potential of sapodilla, which may serve as a valuable reference for future scientific research and therapeutic exploration of this plant.