Graviola Tree & Cancer
Graviola, also known as guanabana and
soursop, is a tropical evergreen tree. It produces a tasty fruit that is sold
in Caribbean, Southeast Asian, and South and Central American markets.
Herbalists treat cancer, diabetes, spasms, anxiety, parasites and other medical
conditions with graviola. Researchers are studying graviola's potential as an
anti-cancer treatment. Seek advice from a physician before using graviola
medicinally.
Description
Cooks prize
the delicious and subtle flavor of the graviola fruit. Desserts,
liqueurs and drinks are concocted using this fruit, which is also called
custard apple and Brazilian paw paw. Since graviola fruit does not ship well,
it is primarily available in the United States as a canned nectar beverage, or
sometimes as preserved or frozen pulp. Indigenous people of the tropics use all
parts of the graviola tree medicinally.
Cancer
Test-tube and animal research demonstrates
that graviola may be an anti-cancer agent, but human clinical trial research is
lacking. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, MSKCC,
graviola extract proved to be effective against liver cancer and breast cancers
cells. Naturopath Leslie Taylor, author of "The Healing Power of
Rainforest Herbs," notes that studies show
graviola has an inhibitory effect on enzyme processes in some cancer
cell membranes. Interestingly, graviola only affected cancer cells membranes
and not those of healthy cells. This research may lend support to the herb's
traditional use against cancer.
Physiological Action
Researchers think that phytochemicals called
Annonaceous acetogenins, present in the leaves and bark, are the tree's
bioactive constitutents, according to Barrie Cassileth's article in the
September 2008 issue of "Oncology." In the laboratory, graviola
extracts were successful against leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease caused by
the protozoa leishmania. The extract also effectively combated the herpes
simplex virus, which can cause genital herpes and fever blisters. Graviola
influences the body's serotonin neuroreceptors and may work as an
anti-depressant, writes Cassileth.
Safety
In test-tube research, the roots and seeds of
the graviola tree have demonstrated an initial toxicity to some neurons. MSKCC
notes that graviola's possible neurotoxic action may lead to symptoms of a condition similar
to Parkinson's disease. According to Taylor, the plant can lower blood pressure
and can cause vomiting and nausea when too much is ingested.
Cancer treatment
According to Cancer Research UK, Annona muricata is an
active principle in an unlicensed herbal remedy marketed under the brand name
Triamazon, but there "has been some test tube work on graviola showing
that it can kill cancer cells".[13][14] Triamazon is not licensed for
medicinal use and the sale of the product resulted in a conviction on four
counts of selling unlicensed medical products, and other charges, for a vendor
in the United Kingdom although it was admitted that the treatment was "not
quack medicine" but regardless the therapy did not meet the UK's
"satisfactory standards of proof".[15] Furthermore it was stated that
"some graviola extracts can help to treat" conditions such as
parasites, rheumatism, arthritis, depression, and other "sickness".
Toxicology
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.
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