Also known as guyabano, graviola, cherimoya, guanabana, sirsak, paw-paw, and prickly custard apple, soursop is a clustered fruit of the evergreen tree Annona muricata. This tropical fruit can weigh up to 15 pounds and grow about 12 inches long. It has a distinct sweet-sour flavor, that tastes like pineapple and strawberry, with a hint of sour citrus taste.
Not only that soursop has found its way into candies, shakes, ice creams, syrups, and beverages, but it also firmly infused itself into folk medicine. It has medicinal properties, which include cancer-fighting activity, that makes it a useful ingredient in several herbal healthcare products.
This ethno-popular tree has derivatives of long chain fatty acids known as annonaceous acetogenins (AGEs), which is considered to be its magic components. These fatty acids can be found in its leaves, seeds, fruits, barks, and roots and seem to be playing a huge part in soursop’s numerous medicinal uses.
Nutritional Benefits
Soursop or guyabano is rich in carbohydrates and free of sodium, fats, and cholesterol. This tropical fruit is an excellent source of vitamins B1, B3 and C, fiber, iron, magnesium, niacin, copper, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin, and thiamin. Also found in its leaves are compounds like fats, fructose, protein calcium, and vitamins A and B.
Guyabano and Cancer
The “Journal of Medicinal Chemistry” published a study regarding the ability of the guyabano extract’s 14 structurally diverse Annonaceous acetogenins in inhibiting the growth of adriamycin-resistant human mammary adenocarcinoma cells. This cell line was found to be a multidrug resistant cancer cell.
After testing the guyabano extract, researchers found that some of its acetogenins were more potent than Adriamycin and may have some chemotherapeutic potential, particularly when it comes to tumors which are multidrug resistant.
Twenty more laboratory test in different laboratories worldwide were conducted and came out with unanimous results:
Guyabano tree extracts is an effective remedy against the growth of malignant cells in 12 different cancer types. These include the deadliest forms of cancer such as breast, lung, colon, pancreatic, and prostate cancer.
The Purdue University in Indiana, United States and the Catholic University of South Korea found that guyabano tree extracts, while successfully fighting the dangerous cells, acted in a way without harming the normal cells unlike with chemotherapy that destroys all the cells that multiply. These findings were published in the Journal of Natural Products.
How Does Soursop (Guyabano) Fight Cancer?
Various studies have claimed that guyabano extracts contain the following properties:
- It protects your immune system and prevents serious infections.
- It makes your body stronger and boosts your energy levels which is beneficial for someone that is already suffering from cancer.
- It fights cancer safely and effectively, as a natural therapy. Unlike chemotherapy, there is no nausea or weight loss.