Graviola (Annona muricata) is a member of the Annonaceae family and is a fruit tree with a long history of traditional use. A. muricata, also known as soursop and guanabana, is an evergreen plant that is mostly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. A wide array of ethnomedicinals activities is atributed to different parts of A. muricata. In South America  this plant is extensively used in folk medicine. Numerous cientifics investigations have substantiated these activities, including anticancer, anticonvulsant, anti-arthritic, antiparasitic, antimalarial, hepatoprotective and antidiabetic activities. Phytochemical studies reveal that annonaceous acetogenins are the major constituents of A. muricata.

CONSTITUENTS: More than 200 chemical compounds have been identified and isolated from this plant; the most important being alkaloids, phenols and acetogenins. The leaf, stem, bark and seeds of graviola contain varying amounts of a novel group of chemcials believed to be biologically active, called annonaceous acetogenins. The leaves, root and stem barks of A. muricata afforded seven isoquinoline alkaloids: reticuline, coclaurine, coreximine, atherosperminine, stepharine, anomurine and anomuricine. 

LATIN NAME: Annona muricata

USED PARTS: Leaves

DRYING METHOD: Sun dried

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: alkaloids, phenols and acetogenins.

PROPERTIES: According to in vitro studies, extracts and phytochemicals of A. muricata have been characterized as an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-protozoan, antioxidant, insecticide, larvicide, and cytotoxic to tumor cells. In vivo studies of the crude extracts and isolated compounds of A. muricata were shown to possess anxiolytic, anti-stress, anti-inflammatory, contraceptive, anti-tumoral, antiulceric, wound healing, hepato-protective, anti-icteric and hypoglycemic activities. In addition, clinical studies support the hypoglycemic activity of the ethanolic extracts of A. muricata leaves. Annohexocin, a mono-THF annonaceous acetogenin from the leaves of A. muricata exhibited significant inhibitory effects against six human cancer cell lines: lung, breast, colon, pancreatic, kidney carcinoma with selectivity for the prostate adenocarcinoma. Muricoreacin and murihexocin acetogenins from the leaves of A. muricata showed significant cytotoxicities against six human tumor cell lines with selectivities to the prostate adenocarcinoma and pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. Mode of action studies have determined that these acetogenins are superb inhibitors of enzyme processes that are only found in the membranes of cancerous tumor cells. This is why they are toxic to cancer cells but have no toxicity to healthy cells.

COMMON USES: Traditional medicinal uses of A. muricata have been identified in tropical regions to treat diverse ailments such as fever, pain, respiratory and skin illness, internal and external parasites, bacterial infections, hypertension, inflammation, diabetes and cancer.

DOSAGE: The therapeutic dosage is reported to be 2 g, three times daily, in capsules or tablets. A standard infusion (1 cup three times daily) or a 4:1 standard tincture (2–4 ml three times daily) can be substituted if desired.

APPLICATIONS: Nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, food supplements, food supplements, functional foods, phytoterapics, medical food.

PRECAUTIONS: Graviola has documented uterine stimulant activity in an animal study (rats) and should not be used during pregnancy. Graviola has demonstrated hypotensive, vasodilator, and cardiodepressant activities in animal studies and is contraindicated for people with low blood pressure. Soursop has been widely promoted as on alternative cancer treatment and there have not been any large scale studies on humans.

For educational purposes only. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease