Emerging therapeutic potential of graviola and its constituents in cancers

Abstract

Cancer remains a leading cause of death in the USA and around the world. Although the current synthetic inhibitors used in targeted therapies have improved patient prognosis, toxicity and development of resistance to these agents remain a challenge. Plant-derived natural products and their derivatives have historically been used to treat various diseases, including cancer. Several leading chemotherapeutic agents are directly or indirectly based on botanical natural products. Beyond these important drugs, however, a number of crude herbal or botanical preparations have also shown promising utility for cancer and other disorders. One such natural resource is derived from certain plants of the family Annonaceae, which are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Among the best known of these is Annona muricata, also known as soursop, graviola or guanabana. Extracts from the fruit, bark, seeds, roots and leaves of graviola, along with several other Annonaceous species, have been extensively investigated for anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Phytochemical studies have identified the acetogenins, a class of bioactive polyketide-derived constituents, from the extracts of Annonaceous species, and dozens of these compounds are present in different parts of graviola. This review summarizes current literature on the therapeutic potential and molecular mechanism of these constituents from A.muricata against cancer and many non-malignant diseases. Based on available data, there is good evidence that these long-used plants could have both chemopreventive and therapeutic potential. Appropriate attention to safety studies will be important to assess their effectiveness on various diseases caused or promoted by inflammation.

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.…”

“…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 . 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.…”

“…[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.…”

The graviola impact on human astroglioma cells: functional significance of MUDENG

“…The anti-convulsant, anti-parasitic, antiarthritic, anti-malarial, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective and anti-cancer properties of this plant are well established. 7,9 Biological and biochemical characterization of the extracts indicate that annonaceous acetogenins are the main ingredients of graviola. 10,11 Principally, graviola plays a predominant role in promoting anticancer activity.…”