Published Paper Details:

Annona muricata L.is a member of the Annonaceae family and is a fruit tree with a long history of traditional use. A. muricata L, also known as soursop, graviola and guanabana, is an evergreen plant that is mostly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Soursop extracts have been identified in tropical regions to traditionally treat diverse conditions ranging from fever to diabetes and cancer. More than 200 chemical compounds have been identified and isolated from this plant, the most important being alkaloids, phenols and acetogenins.. A wide array of ethnomedicinal activities is contributed to different parts of A. muricata, and indigenous communities in Africa and South America extensively use this plant in their folk medicine. Studies have revealed activities, including anticancer, anticonvulsant, antiarthritic, antiparasitic, antimalarial, hepatoprotective and antidiabetic activities and therefore, these crude extracts and isolated compounds need to be further investigated to define the magnitude of the effects, optimal dosage, and mechanisms of action, long-term safety, and potential side effects. More than 120 annonaceous acetogenins have been isolated from leaves, barks, seeds, roots and fruits of Graviola plant. Phytochemical studies reveal that annonaceous acetogenins are the major constituents of Soursop. In view of the immense studies on A. muricata L, this review strives to unite available information regarding its phytochemistry, traditional uses and biological activities.