ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF ALMOND LEAF
Antibacterial activity
Manzur et al., (2011) evaluated the methanol, acetone and N, N-dimethylformamide extracts
of Terminalia catappa L. leaf to ascertain its antibacterial and antifungal activity.
Anti-ulcer Properties
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a break in the lining of the stomach, progressing first from the
small intestine then to the lower oesophagus.
Antidiabetic Properties
Nagappa et al., (2003) investigated the antidiabetic ability of methanol, petroleum ether and
aqueous extracts of tropical almond fruit on (FBS) fasting blood sugar levels and serum
biochemical analysis in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
Anti-inflammatory Properties
Lin et al., (1999) evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of punicalagin and punicalin
carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in rats. The punicalin and punicalagin were isolated
from the leaves of tropical almond.
Anti-aging Properties
Free radicals in the body induce cells damage, which among other things, lead to premature
skin-aging, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and spots.
Antifungal Properties
Gandhi et al., (2015) evaluated the antifungal properties of the aqueous, hexane and ethyl
acetate extracts of the tropical almond bark and wood against certain fungal species. The
antifungal activity was evaluated using agar disc diffusion method. Out of the three extracts,
the hexane extract showed potent antifungal activity against all the selected fungal species.
Dermatological Care
The leaves are used in folk medicine for treating skin diseases such as dermatitis. Dermatitis
is a medical condition in which the skin gets reddish, sore and swollen with small blisters due
to direct irritatin of the skin by an external agent or as a result of allergic reaction.
Mechanical Properties
There is an increasing demand for hardwood for building and construction purposes due to
the increasing population.
Biodiesel production
Adewuyi et al., (2011) produced biodiesel from the seed oil of tropical almond using a twostep reaction system. The first step involved the pretreatment process and this step involved
using 2% sulphuric acid in methanol. The second step involved the transesterification
reaction whereby KOH is used as the catalyst.
Ornamental Purposes
Tropical almond is mostly grown for ornamental purposes and as a shade due to its colourful
appearance and broad leaves.