Anticancer Properties of Graviola (Annona muricata): A Comprehensive Mechanistic Review

Abstract

Graviola (Annona muricata) is a small deciduous tropical evergreen fruit tree, belonging to the Annonaceae family, and is widely grown and distributed in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The aerial parts of graviola have several functions: the fruits have been widely used as food confectionaries, while several preparations, especially decoctions of the bark, fruits, leaves, pericarp, seeds, and roots, have been extensively used in traditional medicine to treat multiple ailments including cancers by local communities in tropical Africa and South America. The reported therapeutic benefits of graviola against various human tumors and disease agents in in vitro culture and preclinical animal model systems are typically tested for their ability to specifically target the disease, while exerting little or no effect on normal cell viability. Over 212 phytochemical ingredients have been reported in graviola extracts prepared from different plant parts. The specific bioactive constituents responsible for the major anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and other health benefits of graviola include different classes of annonaceous acetogenins (metabolites and products of the polyketide pathway), alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, and others. This review summarizes the current understanding of the anticancer effects of A. muricata and its constituents on diverse cancer types and disease states, as well as efficacy and safety concerns. It also includes discussion of our current understanding of possible mechanisms of action, with the hope of further stimulating the development of improved and affordable therapies for a variety of ailments.

The safety and tolerability of Annona muricata leaf extract: a systematic review

“…Our results are consistent with earlier reviews, in respect to identifying consistent reports of the antiulcerative, anti‐inflammatory, antinociceptive and chemopreventive effects of A. muricata leaf extract. This review focused on summarising clinically relevant data to add to the body of knowledge about the safety and tolerability of A. muricata leaf extract.…”

“…Although all aerial parts of A. muricata are used in traditional medicine practices, the leaf is the most widely used in current commercially available products. The acetogenins have been identified as one of the main bioactive constituents of A. muricata . Previous reviews have reported some safety and tolerability data specifically focused on preclinical studies .…”

“…[8,9] However, A. muricata and its constituents have been widely studied for their anticancer properties and efficacy and both in-vivo and in-vitro data have been comprehensively reviewed. [10][11][12] Although all aerial parts of A. muricata are used in traditional medicine practices, the leaf is the most widely used in current commercially available products. The acetogenins have been identified as one of the main bioactive constituents of A. muricata.…”

“…[10] Previous reviews have reported some safety and tolerability data specifically focused on preclinical studies. [10,11] However, to date, a systematic and comprehensive review of the safety and tolerability of A. muricata obtained from both preclinical and human studies has not been reported. The aim of this review was to summarise available literature that reports on factors related to the safety and tolerability of A. muricata leaf extract and its acetogenins.…”

Antiproliferative effects on tumor cells of the synthesized gold nanoparticles against Hep2 liver cancer cell line

“…It has been reported in the literature that nearly 74 bioactive compounds of the plant exhibit a variety of anticancer effects in in vitro and in vivo animal model systems. A. muricata-derived preparations and formulations have been used for the treatment of different disease conditions, thereby proving its prominence in Ethnomedicine [18]. The bark, leaves, and roots of Annona muricata have been extensively applied globally in the disease management of various ailments, including inflammatory conditions, rheumatism, diabetes, hypertension, insomnia, cystitis, parasitic infections, and cancer [19].…”