The myrtle family, Myrtaceae, constitutes over 5500 species, and Syzygium is considered the largest genus of the flowering plants within the family. The watery rose apple, Syzygium aqueum, is a traditional medicinal plant with various bioactive compounds distributed in all plant parts.

These include phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, and essential oils. S. aqueum extracts and their isolated compounds showed multiple beneficial biological effects such as antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, analgesic, antimalarial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities.

Polyphenols are the most abundant compounds found in different parts of S. aqueum, which provide nutritional advantages and contribute to preventing chronic diseases. These are attributed to its richness in many bioactive compounds including polyphenols and flavonoids. Most studies reported the antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and anti-inflammatory activities, pain alleviating and antioxidative properties of S. aqueum, resulting from its phytoconstituents rich content like polyphenols (tannins)and flavonoids (quercetin). The plant also has antiaging effects which are most likely attributed from the antioxidant properties of the plant.

In Indonesia, the leaves are used to wrap snacks of fermented sticky rice. The leaves are eaten as a treatment for malaria and pneumonia. An infusion of the leaves is used in the treatment of stomach aches and dysentery. The leaves have been utilized to relieve childbirth pains

There are 8 registered patents that involve S. aqueum which involve antifungal, cosmeceutical applications, treating a metabolic syndrome.