Annona muricata L. Family: Annonaceae
Synonyms: Annona bonplandiana Kunth, Annona cearaensis Barb.Rodr., Annona macrocarpa Wercklé, Annona muricata var. borinquensis Morales, Annona muricata f. mirabilis R.E.Fr., Guanabanus muricatus M. Gómez
- English: Soursop, Brazilian pawpaw, Prickly custard apple, Graviola
- Assamese: Ata-phal, Atlas
- Kannada: Mulluramaphala
- Tamil: Mullu-sitha-pazham, முள்ளு சீதா
- Malayalam: മുള്ളാത്ത
- Chinese: 刺果番荔枝
- Dutch: zuurzak,
- Finnish: Oka-annoona
- French: anone
- Spanish, German, Portuguese: Anona
- korea: 가시여지
- Polish: Flaszowiec miękkociernisty
- Persion: ساپادیل
- Czech: Láhevník ostnitý
- Divehi: އަނޯނާ
- Esparanto: Pikilanono
- Slovak: Anona mäkkoostnatá
Description: Tree about 5-10 m tall. Bark dark brown, corky and fissured, branchlets subglabrous grayish brown with dark circular dots. Leaves simple, alternate, ovate-lanceolate to oblong-elliptic, 10-16 x 3-6 cm across, base acute, margin entire, apex acute, shallow acuminate or obtuse with mucronate tip, coriaceous, dark green, shining glabrous above, paler glaucous beneath, lateral veins 9-14 on either side of the midrib, almost parallel, impressed above, prominent on the midrib beneath, reticulate veinlets fine and close, petiole pubescent, about 0.5-1 cm long. Flowers bisexual, axillary, solitary, subcapitate, about 6-8 cm across, pedicels slender, stout, about 1-1.5 cm long. Sepals 3, ovate, apex acute or connate into a 3 angled shallow cup, thick, greenish when young yellow when mature outside and yellow, glabrous inside, about 3-5 x 5-6 cm long. Petals 6, subequal, ovate, apex acute, thick, glabrous, yellow outside and inside, about 3-3.5 x 2-2.5 cm long cm across, inner petals 1.5 x 1 cm squamose. Stamens numerous, linear, about 4-5 mm long, filaments fleshy, broad at the base, with apically capitates top of the connective. Carpels many, linear oblong, slightly curved, about 4 mm long, style broad at the base, stigma sessile, entire. Ripe carpels, broadly subglobose or ellipsoid in fruit, muricate, green, warty covered with long curved spines, slightly arolate with white pulp, about 8-10 cm in long, puberulous, stalk stout, about 2-3 cm long, Seeds many, dark brown or reddish brown, slightly flattened.
Uses: Used in Sidha. Plants used for hypertension; roots, leaves, and fruit to cure dysentery; poultice of fruits for ringworm., Extracts from Annona muricata active against Leishmania, spp. and Trypanosoma. Antiparasitic, the seeds contain a yellow oil applied to the hair to kill lice, though it is irritant, to the eyes. Acetogenins in Annona muricata leaves potent, molluscicides. Leaves pounded in water and applied to treat, itch, boils; crushed leaves of Annona muricata mixed with a, red paste from the leaves of Trigonopleura malayana applied, as a rubefacient to treat stomachache and diarrhea; leaves, decoction drunk for easy delivery; leaves anthelmintic, taken, with sugar to remove worms from intestine; crushed leaves, applied as a poultice to the stomach to treat cholera. Bark, infusion for dysentery, against intestinal worms and to stop cough. Roots as fish poison. Veterinary medicine, seed powder applied on wounds to remove worms in cattle.
For the common cold or flu, a tea is prepared using the leaves of guanábana combined, with cinnamon (canela) bark, acerola cherry (cereza) leaves and bitter orange (naranja agria) leaves., Guanábana leaves are used to support recovery from musculoskeletal injury, typically prepared as a tea in, combination with lemongrass (limoncillo) leaves, sweet orange (naranja) leaves and lime/lemon (limón), fruit. For menopausal hot flashes, a tea is prepared of the leaves and is considered a relaxant, often, combined with the leaves/stalk of lemongrass (limoncillo). To calm down anxiety and “nerves” (los, nervios), a sedative tea is prepared of the leaves along with lemon/lime (limón) or sweet orange (naranja), leaves and taken internally. For children with fever, a bath is prepared using the leaves of this plant. The, fruit is thought to be cold (frío) or cooling (fresco) and is used as a diuretic and to lower fever. Healers consider the leaves of this plant to be potentially toxic if taken in large doses, so caution, is advised and only small to moderate amounts of the tea should be taken internally. This herb should not, be taken for an extended period of time. To avoid extracting too many toxins from this potent plant, herbalists advise that the leaves be boiled only for a very short period of time when preparing a, tea/decoction. Herbalists contraindicate eating the fruit during pregnancy or menstruation because it is attributed very cold properties which could cause complications such as menstrual cramps, the, accumulation of phlegm and mucha frialdad en la matriz (lots of “coldness” in the womb). [Dominican Medicinal Plants: A Guide for Health Care Providers]
All parts of the tree have been used in traditional folkloric medicine in various cultures for various ailments and complaints. The leaves and seeds of the tree have long been used by native peoples of various cultures for an astounding variety of ailments, ranging from parasites (the seeds), to high blood pressure and cancer. Seeds are emetic, Pulverized seeds and seed oil effective for head lice. Flowers are regarded to be antispasmodic and pectoral and used to alleviate catarrh. Infusion of leaves have been used as sudorific, antispasmodic and emetic. In the Caribbean, it is believed that laying the leaves of the soursop on a bed below a sleeping person with a fever will break the fever by the next morning. Also, boiling the leaves and drinking was believed to help induce sleep. Decoctions of leaves have been used as compresses for inflammation and swollen feet and similar decoction used for treating head lice and bedbugs. Poultice of mashed leaves and sap of young leaves have been employed for eczema and skin eruptions. Ripe fruit is reported antiscorbutic and is also used as an anthelmintic. Pulp of soursop has been used as poultice to draw out chiggers; and the juice of ripe fruit used as diuretic and for hematuria and urethritis. The unripe and dried fruit, also astringent, is used in diarrhoea, among the Amerindians. Unripe fruit and seeds are astringent and used for dysentery. The tea, fruit, and juice are used medicinally to treat illness ranging from stomach ailments to worms. The bark is used in powdered form for diarrhoea and dysentery and is used by the Chinese and Malays in Malaysia as tonic. [Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants Vol-1]
The tanniferous unripe fruits and bark of Annona muricata L. are eaten so as to stop dysentery and diarrhea. In Indonesia, the crushed leaves are applied externally to heal boils and a powder of the dried leaves is used to kill insects. A decoction of the leaves is drunk to expel intestinal worms. In Malaysia, a liquid preparation containing the leaves is applied externally to treat rheumatism, and to alleviate cough and fever. A poultice of the powdered leaves is applied externally to soothe inflamed parts and to treat skin diseases. In the Philippines, the green bark is applied externally to heal wounds and to stop bleeding, and a decoction of the leaves is used to wash ulcers and to heal wounds. In Vietnam, an infusion of leaves is drunk to combat anxiety. In India, the oil expressed from the seeds is applied to the hair to kill lice, but it burns the eyes. [Medicinal Plants: Drugs For The Future? ]
Traditionally, the leaf has been used in the treatment of headaches, hypertension, cough, asthma and as an antispasmodic, sedative and nervine for heart condition. It has also been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. The fruit has been traditionally applied for cough, hypertension, rheumatism, tumors, cancer, asthma, childbirth, lactagogue, tranquilizer and in liver disorders, as well as arthritis, where extracts are applied externally. The leaf is also used for treating headaches, insomnia, cystisitis, liver problems, diabetes and as anti- inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and anti-dysenteric agents. The decoction of the leaf has parasitic, anti-rheumatic and neuralgic effects when used internally, while when cooked, the extract of leaf is applied topically against rheumatism and abscesses. [Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World - Africa Volume 3]
The fruit pulp. which is used in the preparation of drinks and ice-cream. contains vitamin C. It has been used as a febrifuge and the dried unripe fruit in the form of a powder was at one time used for dysentery. The plant (probably a tea made from the leaves) is said to induce perspiration and to be used for colds and 'nerves'. In Africa the whole plant is used for colds. coughs and fever, and the bark and root. which contain tannin. for dysentery and worms. In the Grenadines the leaves are used to make tea for fever, coughs and colds, 'to cool the blood' and as a sedative for vomiting. [Medicinal Plants of Jamaica]
Stem: Bark and leaf infusion for a sedative or cardiotonic. Branches contain irritant sap. Leaf: Narcotic, for antispasmodic infusions and a calmative; in cataplasms to treat whitlow; infusion for fever with a cold, for a sedative, and to relieve overheating; extract calms nervous conditions; decoction for hypertension and heart conditions such as palpitations, the latter benefitted especially when the leaves are mixed with Ludwigia erecta. Leaves are boiled with the leaves of avocado and drunk as an anti-hypertensive, by the Guyana Patamona. Leaves are boiled with water and drunk as a medication for fluttering of the heart, by the Guyana Patamona. Fruit: For bedwetting children; decoction for excess foot and hand perspiration; antiscorbutic, febrifuge; for a mild antidysenteric and a good vermifuge. Fruit is used for making a tonic, by the Guyana Patamona. In NW Guyana, used for fever, headache, hypertension, and to treat heart problems. Seed: Ingredient in a remedy for convulsions. [Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana)
Hot water extract of dried leaves is taken orally as a sedative. Hot water extract of fresh leaves is taken orally as an analgesic Decoction of dried leaves is used externally to treat rashes, skin diseases and skin infections. Patient is bathed in the cool green solution obtained by boiling the leaves in water. The decoction is taken orally to treat indigestion. Crushed leaves produce a scent that is inhaled for dizziness and fainting spells. Hot water extract of Fruit, when eaten by women, is believed to induce lactation. Women in labor take hot water extract of leaves as a tea leaves is taken orally for gall bladder trouble. The extract is taken orally with Citrus aurantium every morning to relieve nervousness. The extract is also taken orally for easy childbirth. Hot water extract of dried leaves is used in a poultice for asthma, ringworm. Decoction of dried leaves is taken orally for grippe, coughs, and asthenia. Fresh fruit juice is taken orally for asthenia [Medicinal Plants of the World Vol 1]
218 Published articles of Annona muricata
