A comprehensive review on genipin: an efficient natural cross-linker for biopolymers

Genipa americana L. plant is native to Central, South America, and Brazil . It belongs to family Rubiaceae , and it is a small plant that could reach moderate height in the range of 26.2 to 65.6 feet. It grows best at 18–28°C within slightly acidic soils . Its fruit is termed genipap . Genipap is an edible, aromatic fruit  that is around 8–10 cm long and exhibits an elliptical morphology . Genipap is exploited in beverages production. Its flesh could also be exploited as a surrogate to commercial pectin in order to promote jelling of pectin-deficient fresh juices . Genipap together with G. americana leaves and barks were exploited in traditional medicine as therapy for gastric and kidney conditions, prostate cancer, influenza and throat illness .

Genipa americana L. comprises 1–3% GN . Various researchers have extracted GN from unripe (UR) genipap . On one occasion, 60.77 mg GN /g was acquired from the endocarp of the UR genipap endocarp . On other occasions, GN was acquired from the UR genipap endocarp at 38 mg/g  and 3.4 mg/g. Such variations could be ascribed to the altered fruit varieties, and also to their varied handling and extraction techniques .

Geniposide was also shown to be present in genipap. Geniposide is the glycosylated form of GN, which could be hydrolyzed via β-glucosidase in order to attain GN. Moreover, intestinal and liver β-D-glycosidases are also capable of releasing GN from geniposide . Geniposide was present in the ripe (R) genipap endocarp (89.48mg/g)  and also in its UR mesocarp (117.99 and 20.7 mg/g) . Noteworthy, geniposide constitutes > 70% of UR genipap iridoid constituents . Genipap also comprises geniposidic acid, genipin-1-β-gentiobioside, gardenoside, 6′'-O-p-coumaroyl1-β-gentiobioside geniposidic acid, 6′-O-feruloyl-geniposidic acid, and 6′′-O-p-coumaroylgenipin-gentiobioside