GRAVIOLA 

Family: Annonaceae  

Genus: Annona  

Species: muricata  

Synonyms: Annona macrocarpa, A. bonplandiana, A. cearensis, Guanabanus muricatus  

Common names: Graviola, soursop, Brazilian paw paw, guanábana, guanábano, guanavana, guanaba, corossol épineux, huanaba, toge-banreisi, durian benggala, nangka blanda, cachiman épineux  

Part Used: Leaves, fruit, seeds, bark, roots.  

General Information  

Graviola is a small, upright evergreen tree, 5–6 m high, with large, glossy, dark

green leaves. It produces a large, heart-shaped, edible fruit that is 15–20 cm in

diameter, is yellow-green in color, and has white flesh inside.  

Graviola is indigenous to most of the warmest tropical areas in South and North America , including the Amazon. The fruit is sold in local markets in the tropics,

where it is called guanábana in Spanish-speaking countries and graviola in Brazil . The fruit pulp is excellent for making drinks and sherbets and, though

slightly sour-acid, can be eaten out of hand.  

Traditional Uses  

Generally, the fruit and fruit juice are taken for worms and parasites, to cool fevers, to increase mother's milk after childbirth, and as an astringent for diarrhea and dysentery. The crushed seeds are used against internal and external parasites, head lice, and worms. The bark, leaves, and roots are considered sedative, antispasmodic, hypertensive, and a tea is made for various disorders.

Modern Uses  

In more recent researches done in the United States by more than 20

laboratories and by the doctor and researcher Dr. Leslie Taylor, it has been

proved that graviola contains anti carcinogen substances with potentiality

10,000 times more than adriamycin, a drug used in chemotherapy. These

researches have also verified that these substances are selective, fighting

only cancer cells and preserving healthy cells, without the unpleasant side

effects of chemotherapy.  

For 7 years in the United States, it's been attempted (without success) to

synthesize these substances, with the failed goal of obtaining a patent,

since they are not granted over natural substances.  

Plant Chemicals

Many active compounds and chemicals have been found in graviola, as

scientists have been studying its properties since the 1940s. Most of the

research on graviola focuses on a novel set of chemicals called

Annonaceous acetogenins.  

Graviola produces these natural compounds in its leaf and stem, bark, and

fruit seeds. Three separate research groups have confirmed that these

chemicals have significant anti tumorous properties and selective toxicity

against various types of cancer cells (without harming healthy cells)

publishing eight clinical studies on their findings. Many of the acetogenins

have demonstrated selective toxicity to tumor cells at very low dosage, as

little as 1 part per million. Four studies were published in 1998 which

further specify the chemicals and acetogenins in graviola which are

demonstrating the strongest anti cancerous, anti tumorous, and antiviral

properties. In a 1997 clinical study, novel alkaloids found in graviola fruit

exhibited anti depressive effects in animals.

The Annonaceous acetogenins discovered in graviola thus far include:

annocatalin, annohexocin, annomonicin, annomontacin, annomuricatin A & B, annomuricin A thru E, annomutacin, annonacin, annonacinone, annopentocin A thru C, cis-annonacin, cis-corossolone, cohibin A thru D, corepoxylone, coronin, corossolin, corossolone, donhexocin, epomuricenin A & B, gigantetrocin, gigantetrocin A & B, gigantetrocinone, gigantetronenin, goniothalamicin, isoannonacin, javoricin, montanacin, montecristin, muracin A thru G, muricapentocin, muricatalicin, muricatalin, muri-catenol, muricatetrocin A & B, muricatin D, muricatocin A thru C muricin H, muricin I, muricoreacin, murihexocin 3, murihexocin A thru C, murihexol, murisolin, robustocin, rolliniastatin 1 & 2, saba-delin, solamin, uvariamicin I & IV, xylomaticin  

Health Benefits  

_ For cancer (all types);

_ As a broad-spectrum internal and external antimicrobial to treat bacterial and fungal infections ;

_ For internal parasites and worms ;

_ For high blood pressure ;

_ For depression, stress, and nervous disorders.

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Traditional Preparation  

The therapeutic dosage is reported to be 2 g three times daily in capsules or

tablets. A standard infusion (one cup 3 times daily) or a 4:1 standard tincture

(2–4 ml three times daily) can be substituted if desired  

Contra Indications  

_ Graviola has demonstrated uterine stimulant activity in an animal study

(rats) and should therefore 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. People taking antihypertensive drugs

should check with their doctors before taking graviola and monitor their

blood pressure accordingly (as medications may need adjusting).  

References  

_ Kojima, N. “Systematic synthesis of antitumor Annonaceous

acetogenins” Yakugaku Zasshi. 2004; 124(10): 673-81.

_ Tormo, J. R., et al. “In vitro antitumor structure-activity relationships

of threo/trans/threo mono-tetrahydro-furanic acetogenins:

Correlations with their inhibition of mitochondrial complex I.” Oncol.

Res. 2003; 14(3): 147-54.

_ Padma, P., et al. “Effect of Annona muricata and Polyalthia cerasoides

on brain neurotransmitters and enzyme monoamine oxidase following

cold immobilization stress.” J. Natural Remedies 2001; 1(2): 144–46