Graviola, or Annona muricata, is an evergreen tree found in rain forests of Central and South America. The green, prickly fruit of the graviola -- often called Brazilian pawpaw -- is widely eaten by native people groups. The pulp of the fruit is described as custard-like, tasting similar to strawberry and pineapple. Graviola fruit, as well as the leaves, have been used as herbal remedies for numerous conditions over countless generations. In modern times, graviola extracts are sometimes used to treat cancer, especially in South American countries, although scientific studies are lacking to validate such practice.
Traditional Medicinal Uses
Various parts of the graviola tree have medicinal properties, such as its bark, leaves, roots, seeds and fruit. Common conditions treated include asthma, liver and heart disease, arthritis, diarrhea and stomach disorders. Graviola fruit is commonly eaten in Mexico, Columbia and Brazil as a dessert or blended as a juice beverage. Graviola fruit and its juice are purposely consumed to combat intestinal worms and parasites, to reduce fevers and to increase breast milk production following childbirth, as cited in "The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine." Inedible graviola seeds are often ground and used to treat parasites, infections and head lice. Graviola tea -- made from bark, leaves or roots -- is often consumed for its sedating and antispasmodic properties.
Properties of Graviola
The effects the various parts of the graviola tree have on people have not been well studied, although isolated substances within graviola leaves and fruit have been examined in situ. A study published in a 2002 edition of the "Journal of Natural Products" noted that certain phytochemicals within graviola leaves are 10,000 times more toxic to liver cancer cells than a common chemotherapy drug. According to "Medical Herbalism," the National University of Columbia and Purdue University found the amonaceous acetogenins in graviola leaves and fruit are effective in killing cancer cells that are resistant to chemotherapy agents and show strong potential as a cancer treatment. However, demonstrating certain properties in the lab is not always equivalent to how they might react within the body.
Types of Graviola Supplements
The flowers, fruit and seeds of the graviola are often made into extracts or tinctures, which can be taken orally or applied to the skin. These extracts and tinctures of graviola are easily digested and absorbed, because they don't contain fibrous material. Fresh graviola fruit is not easily obtained outside indigenous countries, although dried fruit in capsule form is -- but it is much less potent. Graviola tea is usually the cheapest way to consume the herb; it is simply a more diluted form of the extracts.
Cautions with Graviola
Although generally regarded as safe and consumed frequently by peoples of all ages in many countries, research carried out in the Caribbean and Mexico suggest a connection between consumption of graviola and Parkinson's disease. A study published in a 2003 edition of "Neuroscience" found that consumption of very high concentrations of annonacin, a compound in graviola, was associated with atypical forms of Parkinson's. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any graviola product for the treatment of cancer or any other disease.
References
- "The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine"; Simon Mills; 1994
- "Journal of Natural Products"; New Cytotoxic Monotetrahydrofuran Annonaceous Acetogenins from Annona Muricata; C. Liaw, et al.; April 2002
- "Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices of Herbal Medicine"; David Hoffmann; 2003
- "Neuroscience"; The Mitochondrial Complex Inhibitor Annonacin is Toxic to Mesencephalic Dopaminergic Neurons by Impairment of Energy Metabolism; A. Lannuzel, et al.; October 2003
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