Description

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Soursop is a common name for the fruit of the Annona muricata tree. The dark green, prickly, heart shaped fruit grows in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.Some other common names for it include: -graviola-guanabana-guyabano-Brazilian paw paw-custard applePeople describe the flavor of soursop as a combination of strawberry and apple, with hints of citrus. It smells like pineapple and has a creamy texture inside, similar to that of a banana.People often use the fruit to make beverages, ice-creams, and syrups.Those in Africa, the Caribbean, and South America use most parts of the plant including the leaves, fruits, and seeds in their traditional medicine.The fruit contains many minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and iron. It also provides 46.4 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C in one cup of pulp, which is over half the recommended daily amount for adults. For context, females need 75 mg of vitamin C per day, and males need 90 mg.According to one review, "more than 47% of anticancer drugs on the market are natural products, their derivatives, or natural product synthetic mimics."Soursop contains a variety of phytochemicals. These are plant compounds that may benefit a person's health.In particular, it is a rich source of annonaceous acetogenin compounds (AGEs). Acetogenins inhibit nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, which is contained in the membranes of cancer cells.Soursop has cytotoxic effects in cancer. Cytotoxicity refers to the ability of a drug to kill cells. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are also cytotoxic therapies.The aerial parts of the soursop plant have proven effective against several types of cancer in laboratory.