Graviola / Soursop

Compilation by Armando Gonzalez Stuart, PhD

Scientific Name:

Annona muricata

Botanical Family:

Annonaceae

Other Common Names:

Custard apple, Paw paw, Corossolier

Common names in Spanish:

Guanábana, Guanábano, Anón

Where is it found?

It is a fruit tree native to tropical America (probably the West Indies) but is also cultivated in other tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including India.
In the United States, the tree is grown and its fruit marketed in Florida and other regions

Parts of the plant used:

Fruit, leaves, bark and root.

How is it used?

The fruit is consumed fresh or made into juices and smoothies. The leaves are taken as a tea.
The seeds are crushed to make a poultice against head lice (see precautions below).
The fruit (in spite of the common name “soursop”) is sweet, soft, and smooth.
It provides various nutrients including vitamins C and B (including thiamin, riboflavin and niacin) as well as minerals: calcium, phosphorus, and iron (González-Stuart, 2014; Small, 2012; Duke, 1986; Morton, 1979).

What is it used for?

In traditional herbal medicine, the fruit and leaves of the tree are used to relieve digestive ailments (including diarrhea), pain, hypertension, inflammation, fever, coughs, and asthma, among many other medical afflictions.
A tea made from the leaves has been reported to have a soothing and calming action, especially for insomnia and nervous disorders, but should not be used in small children.
The seeds can be toxic and are used to make a liquid hair wash to kill lice, but caution should be taken, as the liquid is very irritating to the eyes.
The leaves and fruits contain natural compounds that could potentially be beneficial for prostate as well as other cancers, although more scientific studies are needed.
Some studies have shown that the plant’s active ingredients possess antioxidant, anticancer, anticonvulsant, anti-arthritic, anti-parasitic, anti-malarial, liver protective and anti-diabetic effects.
Graviola / Soursop extracts have a promising potential for treating gastric ulcers.
A study showed that an alcohol-based extract of soursop possessed antiviral activity.
Extracts made from the rind of the fruit showed antimicrobial activity.

Safety / Precautions

Safety/Precautions:

The delicious fruit is safe to eat and nutritious, but the seeds are toxic and should not be consumed
Tea made from the leaves should be avoided during pregnancy
Do not take tea for long periods of time and avoid use in small children
Due to its blood glucose lowering effects, supplements containing soursop or graviola should be taken with caution by patients taking anti-diabetic medications.
Due to its blood pressure lowering effects, supplements containing soursop or graviola should be taken with caution by patients taking antihypertensive medications.

Before you decide to take any medicinal herb or herbal supplement, be sure to consult with your health care professional first. Avoid self-diagnosis and self-medication: Always be on the safe side!

References:

Ayensu E. Medicinal Plants of the West Indies.
Algonac, MI; Reference Publications; 1981.
Duke J. CRC Handbook of Alternative Cash Crops.
Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 1993; pp. 41-43.
Duke J. Isthmian Ethno botanical Dictionary.
Jodhpur, India: Scientific Publishers; 1986; pp. 10-12
Galtier M, Exbrayat A. Plantes Médicinales Vol. 1.
Paris: Exbrayat: pp. 18-19.
González-Stuart A. Eating Well with Fruits, Vegetables, Legumes, Grains, and Spices.
El Paso,TX: BPG printing; 2014; p. 62.
González-Stuart A. Potential Chemo-preventive Effects of Fruits, Vegetables, and Spices
Consumed in Mexico. Chapter 18. In: Watson R, Gerald J, Preedy V. (Editors). Nutrients,
Dietary Supplements, and Nutraceuticals. New York: Springer-Verlag/Humana; 2011; p. 296.
Jaramillo MC, Arango GJ, González MC, Robledo SM, Velez ID. Cytotoxicity and
antileishmanial activity of Annona muricata pericarp. Fitoterapia. 2000;71(2):183-6.
Liogier H. Plantas Medicinales de Puerto Rico y el Caribe.
San Juan, PR: Ediciones Iberoamericanas; 1990.
Moghadamtousi SZ, Fadaeinasab M, Nikzad S, Mohan G, Ali HM, Kadir HA.
Annona muricata (Annonaceae): A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Isolated Acetogenins and
Biological Activities. Int J Mol Sci. 201 ;16(7):15625-58. doi: 10.3390/ijms160715625.
Moghadamtousi SZ, Rouhollahi E, Karimian H, Fadaeinasab M, Abdulla MA, Kadir HA. Gastroprotective activity of Annona muricata leaves against ethanol-induced gastric injury in rats
via Hsp70/Bax involvement. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2014 ;8:2099-110.
Morton J. Atlas of Medicinal Plants of Middle America.
Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas; 1981; pp. 224-225.
Morton J. Fruits of Warm Climates.
Miami, FL: Florida Flair Books; 1979.
Padma P, Pramod NP, Thyagarajan SP, et al. Effect of the extract of Annona muricata and
Petunia nyctaginiflora on Herpes simplex virus. J Ethnopharmacol; 1998;61(1):81-83.
Quattrocchi, U. World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants (3 vols.).
Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2012; p. 310.
Roig J. Plantas Medicinales, Aromáticas o Venenosas de Cuba Vol. 1.
La Habana, Cuba: Editorial Científico-Técnica; 1991; pp. 162-163.
Roth I, Lindorf H. South American Medicinal Plants.
Berlin: Springer-Verlag; 2002; pp. 99-100
Small E. Top 100 Exotic Food Plants.
Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2012; pp. 499-503.
Sun S, Liu J, Kadouh H, Sun X, Zhou K. Three new anti-proliferative Annonaceous acetogenins
with mono-tetrahydrofuran ring from graviola fruit (Annona muricata). Bioorg Med Chem Lett.
2014; 24(12):2773-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.03.099.
Van Wyk BE. Food Plants of the World.
Portland, OR: Timber Press; 2006; p. 62
Waizel-Bucay J. Las Plantas y su Uso Antitumoral.
México, D.F.: Instituto Politécnico Nacional; 2012; p. 48.
Yang C, Gundala SR, Mukkavilli R, Vangala S, Reid MD, Aneja R. Synergistic interactions
among flavonoids and acetogenins in Graviola (Annona muricata) leaves confer protection
against prostate cancer. Carcinogenesis. 2015;36(6):656-65. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgv046.