Common Names
- Guanabana
- Soursop
- Custard apple
- Brazilian paw paw
For Patients & Caregivers
How It Works
Graviola showed anticancer effects in lab studies. Human data are lacking.
Extracts of graviola have been shown to be effective against a number of viruses, bacteria, and parasites in test tubes. Laboratory studies have also shown graviola to be effective against some types of cancer cells. It contains chemicals called acetogenins, which are thought to be the active ingredient. However, substances derived from graviola damaged nerve cells and caused neurological side effects similar to Parkinson’s disease in laboratory and animal experiments. In addition, some animal studies suggest long-term use may increase the risk of other neurological diseases. Graviola may also affect nuclear imaging because it has been shown to decrease the uptake of radiopharmaceuticals used in such procedures.
Purported Uses
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To treat cancer
Graviola has been shown effective against cancer cells in lab studies. Human studies have not been conducted. -
To treat herpes
Graviola is effective against the herpes virus in laboratory experiments. Clinical studies have not been conducted -
To fight infections
Lab studies indicate that graviola may prevent certain infections. Human data are lacking.
Do Not Take If
You are taking blood pressure medications: Graviola had blood pressure lowering effects in mice, and may have additive effects when taken with drugs for reducing hypertension. Clinical relevance is not known.
You are taking diabetic medications: Graviola had blood sugar lowering effects in mice, and may have additive effects when taken with hypoglycemic drugs. Clinical significance is not known.
Side Effects
For Healthcare Professionals
Clinical Summary
Graviola is a tree prevalent in the rain forests of Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. The fruits, also known as soursop, are consumed as food. The leaves and stems are used in traditional medicine for symptoms associated with inflammation and infection. Graviola is also available as a dietary supplement and widely promoted as an alternative treatment for cancer, although clinical evidence is lacking. In some Caribbean countries, it is among the most common herbal remedies used in among prostate, breast and colorectal cancer patients (33).
Many of the health benefits from graviola are thought to be derived from its antioxidant properties (1) (2) (3) (4). In animal models, graviola extracts showed anti-inflammatory (5), analgesic (6), antidiabetic (7), antiulcer (8), and antiviral (9) effects. The leaf extracts also have antimicrobial activities (10) (11). Graviola extracts from the leaf, fruit, and seed have been tested in laboratories for their anticancer effects. Some studies show these extracts to be active against breast (16), lung (12), colon (13), prostate (14), pancreas (15), liver (17), and skin cancer (18) cell lines. However, graviola products have not been studied in cancer patients.
Mechanism of Action
Annonaceous acetogenins, phytochemicals isolated from the leaves, bark, and twigs, are among the active ingredients of graviola (35). An ethanolic extract of A. muricata shows in vitro antiviral activity against the Herpes simplex virus (9), and antimicrobial activity against Leishmania (11). Alkaloids from graviola are detrimental to the survival of dopaminergic nerve cells in vitro. This may result in neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. Graviola-induced cell death was inhibited by glucose supplementation suggesting that cell death may have been caused by energy depletion (20). Graviola has also been shown to stimulate serotonin receptors (24). An ethanolic extract produced cell-stimulating behaviors either by increased mitochondrial turnover indicating stimulation in protein production or by preparation to leave the G1 phase, perhaps due to promitotic stimulus present within the extract which acts like a growth factor (28).
In animal models, antidiabetic effects are due to antioxidant, hypolipidemic, and protective effects in pancreatic beta-cells, which improves glucose metabolism (7). Graviola extract demonstrated antiulcer effects by increasing nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 activities (8). Graviola fruit extract has anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 and by blocking opioid receptors (5). However, other animal studies suggest that long-term ingestion of graviola juice promotes generation of reactive nitrogen species that may accelerate development of neurodegenerative diseases involving the microtubule-associated protein tau (34).
Graviola extracts were effective against adriamycin-resistant human mammary adenocarcinoma (MCF-7/Adr) by blocking access of cancer cells to ATP and by inhibiting the actions of plasma membrane glycoprotein (29). They also inhibited expression of HIF-1α, NF-κB, glucose transporters, and glycolytic enzymes resulting in decreased glucose uptake and ATP production in pancreatic cancer cells (15), and downregulated EGFR expression in breast cancer cells (16). Phenolic compounds in graviola demonstrate free-radical scavenging potential against human breast carcinoma cells (30) and in promyelocytic leukemia cells (19). Extracts of acetogenin muricins J, K, and L have antiproliferative effects against human prostate cancer cells, with the effect of muricin K being strongest (27). In colon and in lung cancer cell lines, the ethanolic extract of graviola caused G1 cell-cycle arrest by upregulating Bax and downregulating Bcl-2 proteins (12) (13).
Adverse Reactions
Herb-Drug Interactions
Antidiabetics: Graviola showed hypoglycemic effects in a murine model (31), and can have additive effects with antidiabetic drugs. Clinical relevance is not known.
Antihypertensives: Graviola showed hypotensive effects in a murine model (32), and can have additive effects with antihypertensive medications. Clinical relevance has yet to be determined.
Herb Lab Interactions
Nuclear imaging (radiopharmaceutical biodistribution): Graviola significantly decreased uptake of radioactivity per gram of tissue in bladder, kidney, and blood in animal models (22).
Blood glucose test: Graviola reduced blood glucose levels in a murine model (31).
Blood pressure readings: Graviola reduced blood pressure readings in a murine model (32).