Synonyms
Annona bonplandiana, Annona muricata, Guanabamus muricatus, Annona cearensis, Annona macrocarpa.
Vernacular Names:
| Malaysia |
Durian Mekah, Durian Belanda, Nangka Belanda, Hampun Kapal (Kadazan); Seri kaya belanda, Durian Europa |
| English | Soursop, Prickly custard apple |
| Indonesia |
Sirsak, Nangka londo, Nangka sabrang, Nangka manila |
| Philippine |
Guayabano, Guyabano, Bayubana, Ilabanos, Babana, Atis |
| French |
Corossolier |
| Rodrigues Island |
Corosol, Annone sapotille |
| Latin America |
Guanabana |
| Japan |
Toge-ban-reishi (spiny Annona squmosa) |
| Yoruba |
Eko oyinbo, Eko omode |
| Togo |
Anyigli, Apele |
| West Indies |
Apple leaf, Corosol, Kowosol, Soursop, Soursop leaf |
| Borneo |
Beleda, Dian |
| Dominica |
Corossol, Soursop, Ualapana |
| Dominican Republic |
Guanabana, Soursop |
| Rodrigues Islands |
Corossol, Custard apple |
| Barbados |
Guanabana, Soursop |
| Cuba |
Guanabana |
| Panama | Guanabana |
| Puerto Rico | Guanabana, Soursop |
| Cook Islands | Katara Ara Tara |
| Haiti | Korosol |
| Guam |
Laguana, Soursop |
| Guyana |
Soursop |
| Nicaragua |
Pumo, Puntar waithia, Quanabana, Saput, Sarifa, Seremaia, Soursop, Sowasap |
| Curacao |
Sorsaca |
| USA |
Soursop tree |
| Jamaica |
Soursop |
| Virgin Islands |
General Information
Description
Annona muricata is small tree of the Annonaceae family that could reach up to 7m in height. The leaves are oblong-obovate to oblong in shape, measure 2 to 15cm long, pointed at both ends, smooth, shiny, usually with petioles measuring 5cm long. The flowers are large and solitary, yellowish or greenish-yellow in colour. Three outer petals are broadly ovate with heart-shaped base, inner 3 also large, elliptical and rounded. The fruit ovoid, 18cm long or more is covered with scattered spine-like structures. The pulp is soft white in clour, and rather fibrous and fleshy, with an agreeable sour flavor.[9]
Plant Part Used
Seeds, Leaves, Bark, Fruit [1][2]
Chemical Constituents
Acetaldehyde; amylcaproate; amyloid; annomonicin; annomontacin; cis-annomuricin-D-one; trans-annomuricin-one; annomuricine A – C; annonacin A; cis-annonacin; 2-4 trans–iso-annonacin; iso-annonacin; annonacin; cis– annonacin-10-one; neo–iso-annonacin-10-one; iso-annonacin-10-one; neo-annonacin-10-one; annonacin-10-one; annonacinone; annonain; annonaine; annopentocin A; annopentocin B; annopentocin C; anomuricine; anomurine; anoniine; anonol; arginine; arianacin; ascorbic acid; asimilobine; atherospermine; atherosperminine; b-carotene; b-sitosterol; caffeic acid; campesterol; caproic acid methyl ester; caprylic acid methyl ester; carbohydrate; cellobiose; cholesterol; citric acid; citrulline; (+)coclaurine; cohibins C; cohibins D; corepoxylone; (-)coreximine; (+)coreximine; coronin; corossolin; corossolone; deacetyl uvaricin; dextrose; D-sucrose; epomuricenin A; epomuricenin B; epoxy murin A; epoxy murin B; ethanol; folic acid; fructose; galactomannan; gamma amino butyric acid; gentisic acid; geranyl caproate; gigntetrocin A; gigantetrocin B; gigantetrocin; gigantetronenin; glucose; cis-goniothalamicin; goniothalamicin; HCN; hex-trans-2-en-1-ol; howiicin A; 4-deoxy howiicin B; howiicin B; howiicin F; howiicin G; Iron; isocitric acid; javoricin; lignoceric acid; longifolicin; malic acid; mericyl alcohol; methanol; methyl-hexanoate; montanacin; montecristin; diepoxy-muricanin; muricapentocin; muricatacin; muricatalicin; muricatalin; muricatetrocin A; muricatetrocin B; muricatocin A; muricatocin B; muricatocin C; muricin A; muricin B; muricin C; muricin D; muricin E; muricin F; muricin G; muricine; muricinine; muricoreacin; murihexocin C; murihexol; murisolin; myricyl alcohol; myristic acid; nornuciferine; oleic acid; ornithine; palmitic acid; cis-panatellin; paraffin; p-coumaric acid; potassium chloride; procyanidin; resin; cis-reticulatacin; reticulatacin-10-one; (+)reticuline; reticuline; rolliniastatin 1; rolliniastatin 2; scyllitol; cis-solamin; solamin; stearic acid; stepharine; stigmasterol; tannin; cis-i-uvariamicin; cis-iv-uvariamicin; xylosyl cellulose. [9]
Traditional Used:
Actions: Antibacterial, anthelmintic, anticancerous, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, antifungal, antimicrobial, antineoplastic, antiparasitic, antispasmodic, antitumorous, antiviral, astringent, cardiodepressant, cytotoxic, febrifuge, hypotensive, insecticide, nervine, pectoral, piscicide, sedative, stomachic, vasodilator, vermifuge. [5]
Gastrointestinal Diseases
The astringent properties of various parts of the plant especially the bark and the half ripe fruit renders them useful in the treatment of diarrhea, a remedy for distention and dyspepsia.[1][2][5] The fruit and the fruit juice is taken for diarrhea and dysentery.[5] Tea made from the leaves and also fruit juice can be used for liver problems including cholecystosis.[4] In Malaysia a decoction of the unripe fruit is a remedy for jaundice and diarrhea.[7]
Respiratory Diseases
The leaves and bark in the form of a lotion is used for treating asthma, influenza and cough.[2] It has been recorded that in Malaysia, the Caribbean and South America the decoction of the leaves is a remedy for cough, cold and fevers.[3][6]
Central Nervous System Diseases
The leaves of A. muricata is believed to have sedative and tranquilizing properties. The oil of the leaves and unripe fruit mixed with olive oil is a remedy for neuralgia for the Brazilians in the Amazon.[5] In the Cooks Island the scent from crushed leaves of A. muricata is used to treat vertigo and fainting spells while in Caracoa the hot water extract of the leaves is taken orally with Citrus aurantium every morning to relieve nervousness. In the British Guyana the crushed leaves in water together with lime juice is rubbed on to the head of a drunkard to render him instantaneously sober.[9][15] It can act as an anticonvulsant when the leaves are given in a decoction form.[12]
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
The leaves and barks are used to ease difficult labour. The leaves have lactagogue properties.[9]
Inflammatory Diseases
The leaves of Annona muricata has been used for viral and bacterial fevers.[1] In Malaysia the leaves are macerated in water and the infusion is used to sponge down high fever.[6] A decoction of the fruit is given for the same purpose.[7] Crushed leaves are applied over abscesses as an aid to resolving the inflammation.[2][10][11][14]
Antidiabetic effect
In the Peruvian Amazon the bark, roots and leaves are used to treat diabetes.[5]
Parasitic Infestations
Crushed leaves of Annona muricata are used to treat scabies, head lice and other skin diseases of children.[2][6] Another method for getting rid of head lice is by applying the juice of the fruit on the head.[6] Chiggers are removed by applying the poultice of the pulp for three days.[4][15] The crushed seeds are considered more potent remedy for worms and parasites.[1] The heart of the fruit and fruit juice is also used for worms and parasites.[5][7][11][12] Hot water extract of dried leaves can be used to treat ringworm.[9]
Genito-urinary Diseases
Juice of the fruit of A. muricata is considered a diuretic and is a remedy for haematuria and urethritis.[15]
Pre-Clinical Data
Pharmacology
Antidiabetic activity
Diabetes mellitus contribute amongst the various uses of A. muricata in traditional medicine. Two studies on the hypopglycaemic effects of various extracts of A. muricata were conducted. In the first study [17] they demonstrated the ability of methanolic extract of A. muricata to reduce blood glucose level significantly in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. In another study [18] they showed that the aqueous extract of the leaves was able to stimulate the secretion of insulin.
Antioxidant activity
In a study on the antioxidant potential of extracts of leaves of three Annona species, Baskar et al. [19] showed that the ethanolic extract of the leaves of A. muricata has antioxidant activities. They found that 500mg/ml of the extract showed maximum scavenging acitivity of 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothizoline-6-sulphonate (90.05%), followed by scavenging of hydroxyl radical (85.88%) and nitric oxide (72.60%) at the same concentration. There was only moderate lipid peroxidation inhibition activity.
Study [18] on of the activities of aqueous extracts of the leaves of Annona muricata showed that this extract was able to increase antioxidant enzymes activities significantly.
Cytotoxic activity
The cytotoxic activity of A. muricata is attributed to the presence of many Annonaceous acetogenins. These array of compounds are found in most of the Annonaceae family of plants. Listed are the annonaceous acetogenins found in Annona muricata :
- Annomuricin C, muricatocin C are active against the A-549 human lung and the MCF-7 human breast solid tumour cell lines [20]; gigantetronenin [20];
- Annomutacin, (2,4-trans)-10R-annonacin-A-one, (2,4-cis)-10R-annonacin-A-one are active against the human A-549 lung tumour cell line [21];
- Cis-annonacin, cis-annonacin-10-one, cis-goniothalamicin, arianacin, javoricin where annomutacin selectively cytotoxic to colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29) [22];
- Annomuricine, muricapentocin showed significant cytotoxicities against sixt types of human tumours with selectivities to the pancreatic carcinoma (PACA-2) and colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cell lines.[23]
- Annopentocins A, B, C, cis-annomuricin-D-ones, trans-annomuricin-D-one where annopentocin A is selectively cytoxic to pancreatic carcinoma cells (PACA-2), annopentocin B and C are selectively cytotoxic to lung carcinoma cells (A-549) and mixture of cis- and trans-annomuricin-D-ones are selectively cytotoxic to lung (A-549), colon (HT-29) and pancreatic (PACA-2) cell lines.[24]
- Muricoreacin, murihexocin showed significant cytotoxicities among six human tumour cell lines with selectivities to the prostate adenocarcinoma (PC-3) and pancreatic carcinoma (PACA-2) cell lines.[25]
- Annonacin, annonacin A and annomuricin A showed cytotoxic activity against cell line U-937.[26]
- Muricatetrocin A and B, longifolicin, corossolin, corossolone showed significant selectivite cyctotoxicities towards human hepatoma cell lines Hep G(2) and 2,2,25.[27]
- Muricatenol, 2,4-cis-gigantetrocinone and 2-4-trans-gigantetrocinone, 2,4-trans-isoannonacin-10-one, 2,4-trans-isoannonacin, gigantetrocin A, B, annomontacin, gigantetronenin. In this study the CHCl3 fraction of the seed extract showed strong anti-tumour activities.[28]
- Muricin H and I, cis-annomontacin, cis-corossolone, annocatalin, annonacin, annonacinone, solamin and corossolone. They showed significant activity in in vitro cytotoxic assays against two human hepatoma cell lines ie. HEPg(2) and 2,2,25 with annocatalin showing high selectivity against the Hep 2,2,15 cell line.[29]
Antimicrobial activity
Antiviral (HSV-1) activity
The ethanolic extract of A. muricata in a concentration of 1mg/ml was found to inhibit the cytopathic effect of HSV-1 (Herpes simplex virus-1) on vero cells.[30]
Antiprotozoal activity
In a screening activity for antiparasitic activity of Colombina Annonaceae, Ororio et al found that the extract of Annona muricata was active against the three Leishmania spp. tested.[31] Study found that their ethyl acetate extract of the pericarp of A. muricata to be most active against Leishmania braziliensisi and Leishmania panamensis promastigotes.[26]
Toxicities
A number of potential toxic alkaloids were isolated from A. muricata. They include anonaine, anoniine, muricine and muricinine. Muricinine has a structure similar to reticuline. The bark contain high amount of hydrocyanic acid.[15] There was a report of a single fatality in a child who had over consumed tea made of the leaves of A. muricata.[4]
Clinical Data
Clinical Trials
No documentation
Adverse Effects in Human:
The seeds contain 45% of yellow non-drying oil which is an irritant poison causing severe eye inflammation.[15]
Tropical Myeloneuropathies
An interesting neurological syndrome, characterized by recurrent optic neuritis, cervical myelopathy from syringomyelia, paraparesis, amenorrhoea-galactorrhoea and other endocrine problems, had been described among young black women in the French West Indies. While the etiology remain obscured a possible link with Devic’s disease, actue disseminated encephalomyelitis and neurotoxicity from quinoline in A. muricata teas have been postulated.[32]
Atypical Parkinsonism (Gaudeloupean Parkinson’s Disease)
The Annonaceae family of plants contained neurotoxic benzyltetrahydoisoquinoline alkaloids which had been implicated as the cause of Atypical Parkinson’s Disease found in the French West Indies. This form of Parkinson’s Disease are typically resistant to L-DOPA. Lannuzel et al. [33] found that the total extract of alkaloids from A. muricata root bark and two of the most abundant subfractions, croeximine and reticuline affected the dopaminergic neurons and GAPAergic neurons by causing cell death through condensation and fragmentations of DNA in the nuclei. The effect was not excitotoxic and did not require toxin uptake by the dopamine transporter. The neurodegenation could be attenuated by increasing the concentration of glucose and toxin withdrawal after short term exposure arrested cell death. Acute treatment with totum, coreximine or reticuline reversibly inhibited dopamine uptake by a mechanism that was distinct from that causing neuronal death. They concluded that the alkaloids can modulate the function and the survival of dopaminergic nre cells in vitro. They further isolated annonacin a major acetogenin of A. muricata and studied its effects on dopaminergic cells. They found that it was a potent killer of dopaminergic neurons and its effects was via impairment of energy production of these cells.[34][35]
It was estimated that the average fruit would contain about 15mg of annonacin, a can of commercial nectar 36mg, and a cup of infusion or decoction of the leaves 140mg. As an indication of its potential toxicity, an adult who consumes one fruit or can of nectar a day is estimated to ingest over 1 year the amount annonacin that could induce brain lesions in rats receiving purified annonacin by intravenous infusion.[36]
Used in Certain Conditions
Pregnancy / Breastfeeding
A. muricata has demonstrated uterine stimulant activity in an animal study (rats) and should therefore be avoided during pregnancy.[5]
Age Limitations
Neonates / Adolescents
No documentation
Geriatrics
No documentation
Chronic Disease Conditions
No documentation
Interactions
Interactions with drugs
No documentation
Interactions with Other Herbs / Herbal Constituents
No documentation
Contraindications
Contraindications
Patients with Parkinsonism should avoid taking fruit juice of A. muricata for fear of worsening effects and development of L-DOPA resistence.
Case Reports
No documentation
Read More
References
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