Our assets 23/11/2020

Spotlight on an exotic fruit out of the ordinary: the Graviola

In Brazil, it is called Graviola. On the island of Reunion, Sapotille. In India, Sapadilla. In Vietnam, Mang-Cau. In Thailand, Thu-Riankhaeek. In Spain, Guanabana. All these names refer to the fruit of the Graviola tree, also known as the soursop tree. This shrub from the tropical forests of Africa, America and Asia is appreciated by traditional medicine for its many virtues. Its fruit, leaves, roots, bark and seeds are treasures for the health of body and mind. For several decades, the benefits of graviola have mobilised scientists. An overview of an exotic fruit unlike any other.

The fruit

The graviola grows on this small tree with shiny leaves. It is a heart-shaped edible fruit, recognisable by its dark green bark with small spines. It is quite large, measuring up to 30 centimetres and weighing between 1 and 5 kilos. Its flesh is white and contains black seeds. In addition to its therapeutic properties, the graviola is used in cooking for its sweet and sour juice, which is reminiscent of the taste of lychee or mango.

Traditional uses

In the tropics, where it grows, graviola has long been consumed by the natives for its many therapeutic properties. All parts of the shrub are used: the fruit, bark, leaves, roots and even the seeds. The fruit and its juice are consumed in particular against worms and parasites, to reduce fever, to increase the secretion of breast milk, or as an astringent in diarrhoea and dysentery. The bark, leaves and roots are considered to be sedative, antispasmodic, hypotensive and to combat nervous disorders.

In the Peruvian Andes, the leaves are drunk as a tea against catarrh (inflammation of the mucous membranes) and the seeds are crushed against parasites.

In the Amazon, the bark, roots and leaves are used as sedatives and antispasmodics, as well as for diabetes.

The natives of Guyana consume the tea of the leaves and/or bark as a sedative and tonic.

In Brazil, the leaf tea is taken against liver disorders. The leaf oil and green fruit are mixed with olive oil and applied externally against neuralgia, rheumatism and joint pain.

In Jamaica, Haiti and the West Indies, the fruit and its juice are consumed for fever, parasites and diarrhoea. The bark or leaves are made into a tea and used as an antispasmodic, sedative, heart stimulant, cough, flu, asthma and hypertension.

Properties and benefits of graviola

The flesh of the graviola is mainly composed of water (80%). It is highly energetic and contains carbohydrates (mainly fructose), vitamins (C, B1, B2), proteins, minerals (potassium, iron, phosphorus), amino acids, alkaloids and fibres.

Because of its richness in nutrients, graviola helps to support the body in various ways:

It is a powerful diuretic
It lowers blood pressure
It helps stabilise blood sugar levels
It detoxifies the body by boosting the liver's capacity and facilitates intestinal transit
It acts as an antispasmodic, anti-diarrheal and anti-parasitic
It helps to fight against fever, sleep disorders, stress and depressive states
It has an action against viruses, herpes, microbes, anti-inflammatory diseases, certain heart and liver diseases.

In addition, for several decades, a specificity of graviola has interested the scientific community: the acetogenins contained in its leaves. These acetogenins are phytochemical compounds found exclusively in species of the Annonaceae family and are said to have anti-tumour properties.

Graviola under the scientific microscope

The active ingredients of this exotic fruit have kept scientists busy since 1940, with over a hundred research programmes in the United States, India, Japan, Korea and Europe. Published studies have highlighted its antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antiparasitic, insecticidal, and hepatoprotective properties. A complete review of the virtues of graviola was published in 2015 in a meta-analysis conducted at the Faculty of Science in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. But most research focuses on the chemical compounds present in the fruit, and especially in the leaves: acetogenins.

Natural antibacterial, anti-infectious and antiviral

Graviola has many antiviral, antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal properties, which can be used to combat parasites and intestinal infections, as well as certain viruses that attack the body.

Strengthens the immune system

Rich in antioxidants, graviola leaves help eliminate free radicals. Its acetogenins protect the body from cell oxidation, thus preventing the development of certain diseases.

Diuretic action

The diuretic properties of graviola leaves help to drain the kidneys, thus promoting the elimination of toxins and waste. They also help to destroy bacteria in the bladder and urinary tract.

Antidiabetic

The acetogenins present in graviola leaves help stabilise blood sugar levels and thus prevent the onset of diabetes. They also promote the production of insulin in the body, preventing blood sugar spikes.

Anti-inflammatory

The ability of graviola leaves to reduce inflammation makes them an ally for those suffering from rheumatism or arthritis. Indeed, they have the ability to remove uric acid from the blood, thus relieving joint pain and treating gout syndrome.

Supports digestion

The many alkaloids in graviola leaves support the body against bloating, diarrhoea, gastric irritation and poor digestion. They help to relieve liver and stomach pain and promote the elimination of chemicals such as cortisone or toxic drugs.

Sleep disorders and anxiety

Graviola leaves contain a high content of tryptophan, a molecule that acts on serotonin. Its soothing properties support the nervous system, helping to reduce stress and anxiety and promote sleep.

Anti-cholesterol

Graviola leaves have cholesterol-lowering properties. They therefore help to reduce the incidence of bad cholesterol in the body.

Potential anti-cancer properties of acetogenins

Numerous studies conducted since 1970 have shown the potential of acetogenins. Graviola acetogenins are much more concentrated and efficient in the leaves than in the fruit. These molecules are believed to be involved in the destruction of tumour cells of several types of cancer, including ovarian, breast, prostate, kidney, pancreatic, lung, liver and intestinal cancer.

Research has shown that these active ingredients are capable of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, i.e. their self-programmed death. The properties of acetogenins have been studied in particular by the American Professor Jerry L. McLaughlin of Purdue University in Indiana. In a study published in 1996, he stated that certain graviola acetogenins were " 10,000 times more potent on colon cancer cells " than the products commonly used in cancer chemotherapy. In 1999, the Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Korea noted that acetogenins would destroy cancer cells but spare healthy cells. Jerry MacLaughin continued his work with his team and in 2000 discovered that the active components of graviola work by blocking the energy sources of cancer cells. In 2003, researchers in Taiwan discovered that the main acetogenin in graviola, Annonacin, was highly toxic against certain cancer cell lines, including breast, prostate, liver, brain and skin. Since then, other universities have complemented this research and published work on the potency of acetogenins in several types of cancers, including lung, breast, pancreatic, liver and prostate.

Do graviola leaves have any hazardous health properties?

Some scientific studies have raised doubts about a possible correlation between Parkinson's disease and heavy consumption of graviola leaves. Research has focused on the issue of alkaloids in graviola leaves, which can be toxic in high doses. Alkaloids are neurotoxins which in very high doses could lead to neurodegenerative diseases.

Like most other fruits or plants, graviola only works to its full advantage if the dosage is correct. It is therefore wise to respect the dosage of the products you buy, as well as the duration of the treatment. If you have a history of Parkinson's disease, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor.

How to consume graviola?

Graviola can be consumed as fruit, juice, sorbet, leaf infusion, powder or in the form offood supplements. The advantage of capsules is that they allow a precise and safe dosage to be obtained as part of a food supplementation cure.