Graviola - the superfruit with healing properties

Veröffentlicht am: October 15, 2024

Nutritionist and dietician

Graviola (Annona muricata) has long played an important role in the fight against various ailments and diseases. The plant originates from South America, where it is prized by indigenous peoples for its healing properties. The fruit is not only beneficial for the health of your eyes, but also offers promising potential for treating infections and cancer cells.

In this guide, you can find out what makes graviola a superfruit and what positive effects it has on our health.

What is graviola?

Graviola is a so-called superfruit. It is known by various names in English- and Spanish-speaking countries, such as soursop, spiny cannon, graviola, guanábana and guyabano.

Where does guanabana grow?

Guanábana or graviola is native to South America and the Caribbean and is cultivated as a fruit tree in tropical regions.

What does prickly pear taste like?

The sweet and refreshing taste of the prickly pear can be compared to a combination of pineapple and strawberries.

Use of graviola

The indigenous population in South America likes to use the fruit as a base for various drinks, as fruit juice, for ice cream and other sweets. The bark and leaves of the plant can also be used to make tea.

Where can you buy Graviola?

Graviola is now also becoming increasingly well-known in this country. Graviola juice is particularly popular due to its health-promoting properties, which is why it is available in organic quality in our Herbano range.

The superfruit has plenty of antioxidants and a high vitamin C content, B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus and even some iron. These vitamins and minerals are the reason why the fruit alleviates eye diseases and infections and may even fight cancer.

The positive effects of Graviola at a glance:

Many beneficial antioxidants can alleviate eye diseases

Most of the benefits of the fruit are derived from its antioxidant properties. Studies show that phytonutrients contained in the fruit have a high content of antioxidant compounds, including alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, lacrones, anthraquinones, tannins, cardiac glycosides, phenols and phytosterols. This is an impressive list.

The compounds can fight disease-causing cells and even block the growth of tumors.

Further studies show that these antioxidants can also alleviate eye diseases. The National Eye Institute's Age-Related Eye Disease Study concluded that antioxidants can be very beneficial, especially when taken together with vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and zinc.

In one study, the researchers observed that this combination was able to reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration by 25 percent in test subjects who already suffered from the disease.

Exhibits anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties

Extracts from Graviola leaves showed anti-inflammatory properties in addition to an antimicrobial effect. These findings make graviola an effective anti-inflammatory food.

Studies suggest that graviola may even be a natural remedy for treating root canal inflammation. Normally, dangerous chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite (a bleaching agent) are used to treat such inflammations. However, these pose further health risks.

In a study published in the Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice, the use of graviola to treat root canal infections was shown to be very effective and a much healthier option.

Can help in the fight against cancer

➤ Have you ever wondered which fruits are good for cancer patients? Well, graviola could easily top the list of beneficial foods due to its anti-cancer effects.

Research published in the journal Food & Function shows that bioactive compounds in extracts from graviola leaves may have positive cancer-fighting properties. These properties are due to the ability to capture free radicals.

Furthermore, the antioxidant enzymes contained in the compounds can assist in the elimination of cancer cells. Researchers believe that graviola leaves kill cancer cells by blocking ATP production. ATP, also known as adenosine triphosphate, is the form of energy that cells can use.

This energy is contained in a chemical bond. If it is released, it can be used to promote other activities within the cells.

However, the extract from graviola leaves can help to block this activity. This reduces the harmful effects of cancer cells. They are broken down until they finally fall apart. This is known as apoptosis or programmed cell death. In addition, scientists at the Tepic Institute of Technology (Instituto Tecnológico de Tepic - ITT) in Mexico discovered that graviola also contains so-called acetogenins, which have a strong chemotherapeutic effect.

So is graviola good against cancer?

Research is currently limited to in vitro studies. It is therefore not yet possible to make reliable statements about the effect of graviola on the growth and development of cancer cells in humans. Further studies are required before scientists can provide reliable results as to whether the anti-cancer properties of graviola can be transferred to the general population. However, the fruit shows promising potential as a cancer-fighting food.

Can kill pancreatic cancer cells

Graviola extracts can kill various cancer cells, especially pancreatic cancer cells. The University of Nebraska Medical Center conducted a study and observed how effectively the extract minimized pancreatic cancer. Cancer cells contain more glucose. For this reason, these cells grow rapidly and also promote tumor growth. In this study, however, the administration of graviola extract led to a reduction in the glucose uptake of the cells compared to untreated cells. As a result, these harmful cells were no longer able to multiply and grow. This could counteract the spread of the cancer.

Fights infections

Graviola is often used to treat infections caused by bacteria and parasites, including leishmaniasis. This is a disease that is transmitted through the bites of sand fleas.

Graviola is also used in the treatment of herpes, coughs and vomiting. Bacterial and viral infections can cause coughing, sneezing, fever and other symptoms. These may be annoying, but they are also necessary to trigger a response from the immune system to fight the infection. Graviola and graviola tea can effectively fight infections and help you get back on your feet quickly.

Risks of graviola

Some scientists claim that graviola could also have negative effects on the body. Therefore, do not use graviola preparations if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication. No studies have yet been carried out on possible side effects, so no conclusions can be drawn about its safety.

Do NOT use the seeds of the fruit. They contain high amounts of annonanzine. This is a neurotoxin that is linked to Parkinson's and other neurological diseases. One study found that drinking a tea made from the leaves and stem can also have a neurotoxic effect.

You should also bear in mind that the anti-cancer properties of graviola have so far only been investigated in in-vitro studies. Further studies are needed before the fruit can be sold as a natural cancer treatment. These need to find out whether this effect can also be transferred to humans.

Talk to your doctor before using graviola preparations. Take a lower dose if you have any concerns or experience undesirable side effects.

Concluding remarks on Graviola

Graviola may be very useful in the fight against cancer. However, you should be aware that further studies are needed to confirm this statement. So use the fruit with caution. Gather all available information to determine whether graviola can help you or your friends suffering from cancer or other diseases.

The good news is that graviola has been shown to have an anti-cancer effect and can also effectively alleviate infections. The fruit has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It also promotes eye health. If you notice any side effects when using the fruit, you should stop taking it.

Sources (in English):

Champy, P., Melot, A., Guérineau Eng, V., Gleye, C., Fall, D., Höglinger, G. U., Ruberg, M., Lannuzel, A., Laprévote, O., Laurens, A., & Hocquemiller, R. (2005). Quantification of acetogenins in Annona muricata linked to atypical parkinsonism in guadeloupe. Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society, 20(12), 1629-1633. doi: 10.1002/mds.20632

Gavamukulya, Y., Abou-Elella, F., Wamunyokoli, F., & AEl-Shemy, H. (2014). Phytochemical screening, anti-oxidant activity and in vitro anticancer potential of ethanolic and water leaves extracts of Annona muricata (Graviola). Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine, 7S1, S355-S363. doi: 10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60258-3

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, accessed online: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/antioxidants/introduction.htm

Mathew, J., George, R., Theruvil, R., Padavil, T. C., Tomy, L., & Kurian, A. (2016). Antibacterial Activity of Leaf Extract of Annona muricata and Simarouba glauca on Enterococcus faecalis. The journal of contemporary dental practice, 17(8), 650-653. doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1906

Son, Y. R., Choi, E. H., Kim, G. T., Park, T. S., & Shim, S. M. (2016). Bioefficacy of Graviola leaf extracts in scavenging free radicals and upregulating antioxidant genes. Food & function, 7(2), 861-871. doi: 10.1039/c5fo01258a

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