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MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF SOURSOP AGAINST CANCER
What are the properties of guanabana against cancer?
Soursop, guanabana or graviola (Annona muricata) is a tropical fruit of the Annonaceae family, plants having fruits similar to cherimoya.
All these fruits are called sugar apple or custard apple, and are characterized by whitish, acid pulp and seeds inside. They may have different sizes, being guanabana the largest of its family (up to 2 kg. and 40 cm. in diameter).
Components of guanabana against cancer
Photography soursop in a market.
Soursop is rich in acetogenins, which are its active ingredient against cancer. The seeds, leaves and fruits of soursop have more than 50 different acetogenins, all with anti-cancer potential.
These substances are selective cytotoxic against neoplastic cells, that is to say, able to eliminate cancer cells but not damage healthy cells.
The mechanism of action is related with the inhibition of complex I (NADH – ubiqunona oxidoreductase), which prevents the formation of ATP, and in turn, prevents the nutrition of cancer cells causing their death.
Thus, guanabana protects against tumor formation:
- Graviola or soursop is effective against colon cancer. In a study conducted by Purdue University, the extract from the seeds of soursop was 10,000 times more effective than the drug used against cancer (adriamycin). (See study)
- The alkaloid muricinH, present in the seeds, acts against H460 cells, involved in lung cancer.
- It may also have effects against skin, pancreas, prostate or breast cancer.
A study shows that soursop extract is 10,000 times more effective anticancer drug used to treat it.
Scientific studies on cancer soursop
(Image 1) Representative photographs showing histological evaluation of each group. The red arrows show corneas keratin; The yellow arrows rete ridges and double black arrows hyperplasia.
A study evaluated for 7 weeks the anticancer potential of soursop against papilloma formation or induced skin cancer in mice.
It was used ethanolic leaf extract of soursop (EHG), which is rich in acetogenins, components which are considered fighting cancer.
The study was conducted in 6 groups. Image 1 shows the tissues of each group:
- Image (a) Group I: Control group,
- Image (b) Group II: Group with carcinogens,
- Image (c) Group III: Group with curcumin 10 mg./kg,.
- Image (d) Group IV: Group soursop leaf extract (EHG) 30 mg./kg,.
- Image (e) Group V: Group with 100 mg./kg EHG,.
- Image (f) Group VI: EHG 300 mg./kg.
Study conclusions
The results, analyzed about 180 animals, showed that soursop extract protects against skin cancer. Even at very low doses, it prevents the development of all states of cancer.
| Experimental group | Cancer incidence (en %) |
| I: Control group | 0 |
| II: Carcinogen Group | 55 |
| III: Curcumin 10mg./kg Group. | 14 |
| IV: EHG 30mg./kg Group. | 0 |
| V: EHG Group 100mg./kg. | 0 |
| VI: EHG 300mg./kg Group. | 0 |
How to use soursop for cancer
Cancer is a serious disease that can be cured with conventional medical treatment. Delaying treatment can hinder the effectiveness of medical treatment, and, in the worst cases, cancer can spread to other parts of the body (metastasize).
Soursop alone can not stop the cancer or cure the disease, but it can be a good help to improve the effectiveness of treatment.
Patients should follow the advice of professional medical team that will determine whether soursop is appropriate and how to take it.
*Related information:
– Nutritional benefits of guanabana
More information on guanabana.
