Soursop is a fruit that may help to combat cancer, but to prove this, human studies are missing. It has some safety issues as well.
The possible advantages of soursop are explored in this article, including how it could help combat cancer.
It also contains questions of protection and how to eat it. To learn what the research says, read on.
Definition
A common name for the fruit of the Annona muricata tree is Soursop. In tropical and subtropical regions of the world, the dark green, prickly, heart shaped fruit grows.
There are several other common names for it that include:
Graviola
Guanabana
Guyabano
The paw paw of Brazil
Apple Custard
Soursop's flavor is characterized by people as a combination of strawberry and apple, with hints of citrus. It smells like pineapple and, similar to that of a banana, has a smooth texture inside.
The fruit is also used by people to make beverages, ice creams, and syrups.
Most parts of the herb, including the leaves, fruits and seeds, are used in traditional medicine by people in Africa, the Caribbean and South America.
There are many minerals found in the fruit, including calcium, magnesium and iron. It also contains, in one cup of pulp, 46.4 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C, which is more than half the recommended daily amount for adults. Females require 75 mg of vitamin C per day and males need 90 mg, for background.
Does it help?
According to one study, "more than 47% of anti-cancer drugs on the market are natural products, derivatives or synthetic mimics of natural products."
There are a number of plant chemicals in Soursop. These are plant compounds that might support the health of a human.
In particular, it is a rich source of compounds of annonaceous acetogenin (AGEs). Acetogenins block the adenine dinucleotide nicotinamide, which is found in cancer cell membranes.
For cancer, Soursop has cytotoxic effects. Cytotoxicity refers to a drug's capacity to kill cells. Cytotoxic treatments also include chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
How to consume
When it is ripe, a person will eat soursop raw. When the fruit is slightly soft to the touch, it is ripe. It can taste sour when it is unripe.
An person should cut it in half to eat the fruit, and scoop out the flesh. As these may be poisonous, they can discard the seeds.
A individual may want to slice any leftovers and store them in the fridge, depending on the size of the fruit. People can add soursop to smoothies as well.
Under the name "graviola," sellers will often market soursop. It is commonly available in the following forms:
Fresh Fruit
Packaged pulp for fruit
Tincture of leaf and fruit extract
Leaf powdered
Bitters
Tablets and capsules
Whole, dried leaves
Bags for tea
For these goods, average online prices range from $10-30, although it may be more costly to import fresh fruit.
How it may affect different types of cancer
In laboratory tests, AGEs derived from the leaf of the plant demonstrated cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells. Researchers also found that distilled individual AGEs function against breast cancer cells in test tube tests, and combinations of them.
Laboratory studies suggest that plant leaf extracts are cytotoxic to cells in various cancer types, including:
Melanoma
Head and neck skin cancer
Cancer of the Pancreas
Colorectal carcinoma
Cancer in the liver
Cancer of the lungs
The researchers also showed that extracts were cytotoxic to blood cancer cells from various parts of the plant. The plant components were:
The Leaf
Pericarp, the portion of the fruit produced by the ovary,
Seeds
The Stem
Scientists use various solvents, including ethanol, methanol, and chloroform, to extract beneficial compounds from the plant.
Potential benefit
Antioxidant function is shown by Soursop. Oxidative stress, which can cause harm and illness in the body of a human, is counteracted by antioxidants.
Laboratory experiments on cancer cells and animal tissue also indicate that soursop may:
Suppressing prostate cancer cells in rats and reducing prostate size
Apoptosis (cell death) of lung cancer cells is caused by
Inhibiting colon cancer cell migration and invasion
Mammary cancer cells stabilize
Prevent damage to DNA in the mice's breast tissue
Safety
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not support or agree with any argument that conditions such as cancer can be treated.
Safety problems associated with cytotoxic drugs, such as hair loss and the suppression of the immune system, are also reported. It was also discovered in laboratory experiments that the most abundant acetogenin was neurotoxic.
The possible toxic effects of soursop may vary depending on the part of the plant, the method of extraction, the location of the plant and the time of harvest, researchers claim.