Annona Muricata is also known as soursop in our
country, is a small tree that belongs to the Annonaceae family, of the Annona genus. It is a small tree (8-10 m in height), growing cultivated in almost all tropical America. Soursop is fleshy fruits of 15-20 cm long, with very pleasant taste and it is industrialized in the preparation of juices, nectars, jams, ice creams etc.
Soursop or Graviola is a complete tree, not only appreciated for the taste and freshness of its fruit but also for its healing properties being present in the leaves, stems, roots and seeds, having characteristics such as antiseptic, antibacterial, vasodilator, hypotensive and sedative.
Soursop or Graviola is also recognized for its antiparasitic property. The presence of cancer in the body favors the proliferation of parasites that’s why Dr. Hulda Clark in her book "The Cure for all Cancers", details the significance of Soursop against cancer due to its antiparasitic property. Parasites dispose of their wastes in the organism and contaminate it with many toxins favoring that cancer becomes worse.
The best-known property of this plant is being anticarcinogenic by its high content of acetogenins of Annonaceae which are substances abounding in soursop’s leaves which makes it the most powerful anti-cancer plant on the planet. All soursop tree is used in Natural Medicine.
ACETOGENINS AND THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER
For over 40 years, scientific studies 
have been conducted that prove the great anticarcinogenic qualities of soursop.
Institutions such as Purdue University in Indiana, the National Cancer Institute, the National Health Center in United States and Advanced Study Centers in Japan, Korea and China confirm that the soursop or graviola leaves are riches in ACETOGENINS which is similar to ADRIAMYCIN (the substance used in chemotherapy), but it is 10,000 times better and they do not have these terrible side effects like hairloss.
The acetogenins are derived from fatty acids that form long chains and contain a bis adjacent THF(tetrahydrofuran) ring that are cytotoxic against malignant tumors located in the pancreas, colon and prostate, these acetogenins are inhibitors of complex I of oxidative phosphorylation chain with which block the ATP formation, which is the energy needed by the cancer cell to operate its pump by P-glycoprotein mediated, which allows it to stay active.
Therefore, the soursop medicinal value is concentrated in the leaves with which we can see the possibilities of therapeutical use of this plant to aid in the treatment of certain malignant processes, that are so big, there are preclinical studies that demonstrate their activity and in some way it is supported by traditional medicine that use it in some superficial malignant tumors in leaves poultice form.
Scientific research studies alsostate:
- Soursop leaves extract fights cancer
- Soursop leaves tea cures cancer.
- Soursop micropulverized leaves powder mixed in yogurts or juices of the same fruit strengthens your immune system.
- Consume soursopor graviola leaves capsules because they are highly effective against cancer and they don’t have contraindications for being 100% natural.
It also worth noting that studies in the Caribbean suggest a connection between consumption of this fruit and atypical forms of Parkinson's disease due to high annonacina concentrations. Annonacina concentration in fruit (15 mg / fruit) or in the commercial nectar (36 mg / can) is a hundred times more than that of tea made of its leaves (140 μg / cup).
This plant is drunk like infusion, and only two cups a day, doses should not be exceeded because the leaves also contain annonacina as we saw above lines it could produce atypical Parkinson.
TRADITIONAL USES OF GRAVIOLA
Additionally, Graviola consumption in other countries besides being known as anticarcinogenic has different customary and traditional uses:In Brazil: is used like an analgesic, antirheumatic, antipyretic.
In Haiti: relieves flu, weakness and it is an antispasmodic.
In Mexico, relieves bronchial affections and like antidiarrheic.
In Panama: relieves dyspepsia and allergies.
In Venezuela: relieves liver disease.
In Malaysia: relieves rheumatism and dermatological affections.
In Peru, the soursop juice is not only appreciated for its pleasant and refreshing taste but also for being a good antiparasitic; the crushed seeds are effectively used eliminating lice and external parasites, the roots are drunk in infusions like a sedative, or spasmodic, or hypotensive.
NUTRITIONAL VALUE OFSOURSOP FRUIT FLESH (PER 100 gr.)
- Calories 61.3– 53.1
- Humidity 82.8g
- Protein 1.00g
- Fatty 1.00g
- Carbohydrate 14.63g
- Fiber 0.79g
- Ashes 60g
- Calcium 10.3 mg.
- Phosphorus 27.07mg.
- Iron 0.64mg.
- Vitamin A (B-carotene) 0
- Thiamine 0.11mg
- Riboflavin 0.05mg
- Niacin 1.28mg
- Ascorbic acid 29.6mg