Soursop is the fruit of Annona muricata, a broadleaf, flowering, evergreen tree native to Mexico, Cuba, Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America: Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela. Soursop is also produced in Somalia. Today, it is also grown in some areas of Southeast Asia, as well as in some Pacific islands. It was most likely brought from Mexico to the Philippines by way of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade.[citation needed] It is in the same genus as the chirimoya and the same family as the pawpaw.
Health
The fruit contains significant amounts of vitamin C, vitamin B1 and vitamin B2.
Preliminary in vitro laboratory research suggests that Graviola may have potential to treat some infections. Research carried out in the Caribbean has suggested a connection between consumption of soursop and atypical forms of Parkinson’s disease due to the very high concentration of annonacin.The Federal Trade Commission in the United States determined that there was “no credible scientific evidence” that the extract of soursop sold by Bioque Technologies “can prevent, cure, or treat cancer of any kind.”
Annonacin is a neurotoxin found in soursop seeds
The compound annonacin contained in the seeds of soursop is a neurotoxin and it seems to be the cause of a neurodegenerative disease. The only group of people known to be affected live on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe and the problem presumably occurs with the excessive consumption of plants containing annonacin. The disorder is a so-called tauopathy associated with a pathologic accumulation of tau protein in the brain. Experimental results demonstrated for the first time that the plant neurotoxin annonacin is responsible for this accumulation.
Cancer treatment
According to Cancer Research UK, “there is no evidence to show that graviola works as a cure for cancer” and consequently they do not support its use as a treatment for cancer. A court case relating to the sale in the UK of Triamazon, a graviola product, resulted in convictions on four counts related to selling an unlicensed medical product. The judge said that the drug had not been tested on human beings, was not licenced for use in UK markets and could cause symptoms similar to Parkinson’s Disease.
Fruit and leaves of Annona muricata
Soursop, raw, edible parts
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy
276 kJ (66 kcal)
Carbohydrates
16.84 g
– Sugars
13.54 g
– Dietary fiber
3.3 g
Fat
0.30 g
Protein
1.00 g
Vitamin A equiv.
0 μg (0%)
Thiamine (vit. B1)
0.070 mg (6%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2)
0.050 mg (4%)
Niacin (vit. B3)
0.900 mg (6%)
Vitamin B6
0.059 mg (5%)
Folate (vit. B9)
14 μg (4%)
Vitamin C
20.6 mg (25%)
Calcium
14 mg (1%)
Iron
0.6 mg (5%)
Magnesium
21 mg (6%)
Phosphorus
27 mg (4%)
Potassium
278 mg (6%)
Zinc
0.1 mg (1%)
Percentages are relative to
US recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient Database
The soursop is adapted to areas of high humidity and relatively warm winters; temperatures below 5 °C (41 °F) will cause damage to leaves and small branches, and temperatures below 3 °C (37 °F) can be fatal. The fruit becomes dry and is no longer good for concentrate.
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