Generality
Botany and description
Graviola is the name by which the Portuguese-speaking populations indicate the Annona muricata tree, evergreen fruit-bearing belonging to the Annonaceae family, typical of tropical forests.
Purposes
It is however in the bark, in the leaves, in the roots, in the seeds and in the twigs, that graviola contains the greatest quantities of molecules from possible medical applications.
Indications
When to use graviola?
The scientifically based indications for the use of graviola are very different from those hypothesized or suggested by traditional medicine.
In fact, based on the popular medicine of the places of origin, graviola supplements are indicated for gastric discomfort, fever or as a sedative. On the other hand, according to most Western medical theories, the use of graviola is recommended to treat: cancer, hyperuricemia, back pain, rheumatism, diabetes, immune problems, eczema and other skin diseases. In this regard, it must be said that there are no scientific foundations in this regard, so that - according to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) - graviola would not be useful to treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Property and Effectiveness
What benefits has the graviola shown during the studies?
The pharmacological principles characteristic of graviola are annonaceous acetogenins, molecules considered responsible for the surprising anti-tumor and antiviral effects, demonstrated in vitro, but still lacking in vivo confirmation. Let's go into more detail:
- One of these substances, cis-annonacin, has shown a cytotoxic effect (ability to damage cells, in this case cancer) against cellular adenocarcinoma of the colon, 10, 000 times higher than that of Adriamicin (Doxorubicin), chemotherapeutic used in the treatment of a large family of cancers
- The ethanol extracts of graviola have proven effective against:
- The Herpes symplex virus
- The protozoan responsible for leishmaniasis
- The freshwater mollusk Biomphalaria glabrata, host of the parasitic worm Schistosoma mansoni .
- In vitro, acetogenins extracted from graviola have shown important cytotoxic effects against cancer cells of the liver (hepatoma), breast (MCF-7), prostate (PC-3), pancreas (PACA-2), lung (A -549) and colon (HT-29).
Unfortunately, to date there are no large-scale studies that confirm the anticancer properties of graviola on the human species, as is shown by the rather small amount of studies available on pubmed.
On the other hand, in many Internet sites anecdotes are told about a failed attempt to patent some acetogenins by an important pharmaceutical industry, which after 7 years of study left the project due to the inability to synthesize specific molecules and patent them.
At the same time, the remarkable anti-tumor properties of graviola and the lack of side effects typical of chemotherapy drugs are extolled (a statement that is not entirely accurate).
Beyond the more malicious considerations and marketing plans, we must not forget:
- The absence of significant clinical studies on humans;
- The possible interference with concomitant chemotherapeutic therapies;
- The difficulty of standardizing the active ingredients, linked to the innumerable factors that influence the yield of the plant's assets, but also to possible sophistications.
Nutritional characteristics of the graviola fruit
The graviola fruit contains significant amounts of vitamin C, vitamin B1 and vitamin B2.
| Gravola raw meat | |||
 | |||
Nutritional values per 100 g | |||
Power | 66 kcal | ||
Total carbohydrates | 16.84 g | ||
Simple sugars | 13.54 g | ||
Grassi | 0.3 g | ||
Protein | 1.0 g | ||
fibers | 3.3 g | ||
Vitamins | |||
Thiamine or B1 | 0.07 mg | 6% | |
Riboflavin or B2 | 0.05 mg | 4% | |
Niacin or PP or B3 | 0.9 mg | 6% | |
Pantothenic acid or B5 | 0.253 mg | 5% | |
Pyridoxine or B6 | 0.059 mg | 5% | |
Folic acid | 14.0 μg | 4% | |
Choline | 7.6 mg | 2% | |
Ascorbic acid or C | 20.6 mg | 25% | |
Minerals | |||
Football | 14.0 mg | 1% | |
Iron | 0.6 mg | 5% | |
Magnesium | 21.0 mg | 6% | |
Phosphorus | 27.0 mg | 4% | |
Potassium | 278.0 mg | 6% | |
Sodium | 14.0 mg | 1% | |
Zinc | 0.1 mg | 1% | |
Doses and Mode of Use
How to use graviola?
The preferred method of administration for graviola is internal, orally.
The most widely used pharmacological type is the dry extract capsule, with a weight of 650 mg, which must be taken in a quantity of 1-1.5 g per day, possibly divided into two administrations (the other ingredients of the capsules are: gelatin, flour of rice, cellulose, stearic acid).
Another type of graviola-based supplement is syrup reinforced with minerals and vitamins.
It is advisable to cycle the treatment, for example by taking the product for 3 weeks followed by a break.
Side effects
Graviola tends to produce significant side effects, such as:
- Hypotension
- vasodilation
- Cardiodepression (decreases myocardial excitability).
Among the "possible" side effects, however, we underline:
- Nausea
- Vomiting (high dose)
- Movement disorders, with myeloneuropathy and symptoms similar to those of Parkinson's disease.
In the case of prolonged use, the antibacterial effect could alter the normal intestinal bacterial flora.
Contraindications
When should graviola not be used?
The use of graviola is not recommended in case of:
- Pregnancy
- Feeding time
- Hypotension
- Heart disease.
Caution is advised in patients on drug treatment.
Pharmacological Interactions
Which drugs or foods can modify the effect of la graviola?
The class of drugs with which graviola can interact is that of antihypertensives / hypotensive drugs, which are divided into:
- Thiazide diuretics
- Potassium-sparing diuretics
- Osmotic diuretics
- Beta blockers
- ACE Inhibitors
- Sartans or AT-1 antagonists
- Calcium channel blockers.
Precautions for Use
What do you need to know before taking graviola?
As explained in the article, it is essential, to say the least, that every possibility of use is discussed in advance with experienced health personnel who are informed about the use, potential side effects and pharmacological interactions of graviola (in particular if you suffer from particular medical or psychiatric conditions).
Let us once again remember that graviola is not suitable for prolonged use.
Bibliography
- Oncology (Williston Park). 2008 Sep; 22 (10): 1202. Complementary therapies, herbs, and other OTC agents. Cassileth B. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
- Padma P, Pramod NP, Thyagarajan SP, Khosa RL. Effect of the extract of Annona muricata and Petunia nyctaginiflora on Herpes simplex virus. J Ethnopharmacol. 1998; 61: 81-3.
- dos Santos AF, .Sant'Ana AE. Molluscicidal properties of some species of Annona. Phytomedicine. 2001; 8: 115-20.
- Jaramillo MC, Arango GJ, Gonzalez MC, Robledo SM, Velez ID. Cytotoxicity and antileishmanial activity of Annona muricata pericarp. Phytotherapy 2000; 71: 183-6.
- Liaw CC, Chang FR, Lin CY, Chou CJ, Chiu HF, Wu MJ et al. New cytotoxic monotetrahydrofuran annonaceous acetogenins from Annona muricata. J Nat.Prod. 2002; 65: 470-5.
- Oberlies NH, Chang CJ, McLaughlin JL. Structure-activity relationships of different Annonaceous acetogenins against multidrug-resistant human mammary adenocarcinoma (MCF-7 / Adr) cells. J Med Chem. 1997; 40: 2102-6.
- Lannuzel A, Michel PP, Caparros-Lefebvre D, Abaul J, Hocquemiller R, Ruberg M. Toxicity of Annonaceae for dopaminergic neurons: potential role in atypical parkinsonism in Guadeloupe. Mov Disord. 2002; 17: 84-90.
- Roman G. Tropical myeloneuropathies revisited. Curr.Opinion.Neurol 1998; 11: 539-44.
- Chen JC, Tsai CC, Chen LD, Chen HH, Wang WC. Therapeutic effect of gypenoside on chronic liver injury and fibrosis induced by CCl4 in rats. Am.J Chin Med. 2000; 28: 175-85.
- Muricoreacin and murihexocin C, mono-tetrahydrofuran acetogenins, from the leaves of Annona muricata (graviola). Kim GS, Zeng L, Alali F, Rogers LL, Wu FE, Sastrodihardjo S, McLaughlin JL. Phytochemistry. 1998 Sep; 49 (2): 565-71.PMID: 9747542 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
- Five novel mono-tetrahydrofuran ring acetogenins from the seeds of Annona muricata (graviola). Rieser MJ, Gu ZM, Fang XP, Zeng L, Wood KV, McLaughlin JL. J Nat Prod. 1996 Feb; 59 (2): 100-8.PMID: 8991944 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Related citations
- Additional bioactive acetogenins, annomutacin and (2, 4-trans and cis) -10R-annonacin-A-ones, from the leaves of Annona muricata (graviola). Wu FE, Zhao GX, Zeng L, Zhang Y, Schwedler JT, McLaughlin JL, Sastrodihardjo S. J Nat Prod. 1995 Sep; 58 (9): 1430-7.PMID: 7494150 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
- New bioactive monotetrahydrofuran Annonaceous acetogenins, annomuricin C and muricatocin C, from the leaves of Annona muricata (graviola). Wu FE, Zeng L, Gu ZM, Zhao GX, Zhang Y, Schwedler JT, McLaughlin JL, Sastrodihardjo S. J Nat Prod. 1995 Jun; 58 (6): 909-15.PMID: 7673936 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
- Muricatocins A and B, two new bioactive monotetrahydrofuran Annonaceous acetogenins from the leaves of Annona muricata (graviola). Wu FE, Zeng L, Gu ZM, Zhao GX, Zhang Y, Schwedler JT, McLaughlin JL, Sastrodihardjo S. J Nat Prod. 1995 Jun; 58 (6): 902-8.PMID: 7673935 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
- Anti Cancer Activity on Graviola, an Exciting Medicinal Plant Extract vs. Various Cancer Cell Lines and a Detailed Computational Study on its Potent Anti-Cancerous Leads. Paul J, Gnanam R, Jayadeepa RM, Arul L. Curr Top Med Chem. 2013; 13 (14): 1666-73.
- Three new anti-proliferative Annonaceous acetogenins with mono-tetrahydrofuran ring from graviola fruit (Annona muricata).
Sun S, Liu J, Kadouh H, Sun X1, Zhou K.
Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2014 Jun 15; 24 (12): 2773-6
