This plant of the anon family is also known under the name Sirsak, Graviola or Guanábana.
Their taste is reminiscent of a combination of vanilla and banana.
It is very rich and extremely healthy.

The prickly annone originally comes from the lowland forests of South America, the Caribbean but also West India. The indigenous people of Latin America and Grenada worshiped the tree as a sanctuary. Even today it is valued by many inhabitants of the tropics and consumed regularly to defy all possible diseases.

The tropical plant prefers loamy soil, but is not particularly fussy. It loves tropical climates, but also thrives in subtropical climates. The prickly annone tree can grow up to 10 m high, has evergreen leaves that look like large bay leaves and has fruit all year round. The green-yellow flowers attract insects to pollinate with their carrion-like smell. Their fruits, which belong to the berries, can grow up to 10 to 30 cm long and weigh up to 4 kg. The green, prickly shell is covered with many soft spines.

Soursop fights cancer

Soursop extracts from leaves, fruits and seeds have been studied in the laboratory for their anti-cancer effects over the past 40 years. Much of the research into the health benefits of Soursop has been conducted by institutions independent from many areas of the pharmaceutical industry. The results of this research are generally made available to the public.

Some studies show that these extracts are effective against breast, lung, prostate, pancreatic, liver, and skin cancers.

Here are some examples:

• One in five fruits obtained from the seeds of the soursop fruit was "selectively cytotoxic to colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29)" and "10,000 times more potent" than the chemotherapy drug adriamycin at inhibiting cancer growth.
• In 1997, a study published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry suggested that Soursop showed better results than chemotherapy at destroying breast cancer cells. Studies conducted at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center have shown that soursop extract is effective against both breast cancer and liver cancer.
• Soursop extracts killed certain types of breast and liver cancer cells.
• According to one study, the soursop plant is a proven anticancer agent for most types of diseases. Although the tests have not yet been done on humans, the possibilities are promising.
• In 2011 the journal Nutrition and Cancer unveiled promising research on soursop and breast cancer. The researchers found that graviola fruit extract (GFE) suppressed expression of a breast cancer that causes an oncogene known as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in animal models. According to the researchers, “5 weeks of dietary treatment with GFE (200 mg / kg diet) decreased EGFR protein expression in breast tumors by 56% ... Overall, dietary GFE inhibited tumor growth by 32% as measured by wet weight. "
• In another Indian study carried out on different cell lines, soursop leaves showed 80% cell inhibition. The acetogenins in Soursop inhibit the harmful compounds in cancer cells.
• A cell study from 1999 showed that Soursop had activity against prostate cancer and breast cancer. Another cell study from 2002 showed that Graviola showed activity against hepatoma (liver cancer). Studies done at the University of Nebraska have shown that graviola inhibits the growth of pancreatic cancer cells.
• Soursop extract had also inhibited the survival and metabolism of pancreatic cancer cells - suggesting possible success in curing the deadly disease.
• What makes Acetogenine potentially unique is its ability to selectively destroy the cancer cells without harming the healthy cells.

A well-maintained diet made up of cancer-fighting superfoods like the soursop can reduce the risk of various cancers and also prove beneficial in treatment.

Soursop treats infections

Soursop can treat infections caused by bacteria and parasites, including leishmaniasis, a condition caused by parasites that are spread through the bites of sand fleas.

The leaves of the soursop tree are also used to treat a wide variety of infections. 

Soursop for a healthy gastrointestinal tract

Soursop also has anti-ulcer properties. The fruit suppresses oxidative damage and preserves the mucus in the stomach wall. The significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the soursop fruit can help improve gastrointestinal health.

A Brazilian study looked at the anthelmintics (the ability to kill parasites) in soursop leaf extract. They studied the effects of a parasitic worm that caused gastrointestinal problems in sheep. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of soursop on the eggs and the adult forms of the parasite. The study concluded that soursop is a natural anthelmintic, and since it could kill the parasites in sheep that caused gastrointestinal problems, it could have similar effects in humans. However, more research is still going on.

As shown in another report, excessive oral doses of iron can lead to gastrointestinal problems. Although soursop is a source of iron, the mineral content in the fruit isn't as high as other ingredients - so it's unlikely to cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Again, the same fact could work for the benefit of the individual. For example, a person suffering from iron deficiency may be prone to anemia, which is known to cause gastrointestinal dysfunction. While soursop isn't an excellent source of iron, it does contain iron - so it can be a healthy addition to an iron-rich diet to fight anemia (and the gastrointestinal problems that result from it).

Soursop fights inflammation

Research in South America and tropical Africa had highlighted the anti-inflammatory properties of the roots, bark, and leaves of the soursop tree. The soursop's ability to treat inflammation is good and can be used to provide relief from arthritis. In addition to its anti-inflammatory effects, Soursop is also known for its analgesic effects.

In a Brazilian study, it was found that administration of soursop and juice improved the inflammation caused by snakebite.

Diabetes treatment with Soursop

According to a Nigerian study, Soursop has anti-diabetic properties. The two groups of rats tested in the study had a significant difference in their blood sugar levels, with the Soursop-treated group having lower levels than the other.

The aqueous extract from the leaves has been found to inhibit and even prevent the hepatic oxidative damage caused in diabetic patients.

Many other advantages

• Rheumatism: The unripe fruit and the boiled leaves are crushed as a pack to relieve rheumatism and arthritis pain
• Eye Health: Soursop's antioxidants, particularly vitamins C and E, zinc, and beta carotene, are believed to reduce the risk of eye diseases. They reduce oxidative stress that can otherwise cause cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
• Fever: The soursop fruit has traditionally been used to treat fever. In Africa, a decoction of soursop leaves is used to control febrile symptoms and seizures. In fact, the larvae of the Aedes aegypti mosquito (which transmit dengue fever) showed a strong vulnerability to soursop extract. According to an Indian study, the sourtsop fruit and its juice can not only treat fever but also act as an astringent Diarrhea and diarrhea work. The fruit can also treat fevers in children; Soursop is widely used in Africa for this purpose.
• Hypertension: Soursop was used in folklore to treat high blood pressure. This is due to the antioxidant potential of phenols in the fruit, according to a Nigerian study. According to an Indonesian study report, soursop contains good nutrients that can lower blood pressure in adults.
• Respiratory tract: According to a Nigerian study, if the soursop leaves are cooked, they can be used to treat respiratory diseases such as asthma.
• Kidney and Liver Health: According to an Indian study, the acetogenins in Soursop can kill the malignant cells of 12 types of cancer, liver cancer being one of them. In Malaysia, rats with kidney and liver diseases received positive treatment with an extract from Soursop.

Better immune system

A Korean study says that taking soursop can improve immunity. This is due to the bioactive compounds in the fruit. The study concludes by stating that the soursop leaf extract has the potential to stimulate immunity and, therefore, it can be used to treat patients with compromised immune systems. Soursop can also be made a part of the diet to improve the overall quality of life.

Soursop fruit juice has been found to provide more micronutrients than its pulp. However, the pulp contains more vitamin A than the juice. Soursop is also rich in ascorbic acid (vitamin C), which strengthens and strengthens the immune system. Beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A, also contributes to an improved immune system.

Another report published in a journal by the University of West Indies talks about a study where patients with different forms of cancer were given different foods, Soursop being one of them. As stated in the report, the aim of the experiment was to strengthen the patient's immune system.