GRAVIOLA (Annona Muricata)*
by MEDLINE

      The Graviola tree, native to North & South America, is being widely studied for it’s anti-tumor, anti-viral, pesticidal & anti-cancer properties, with 18 patents applied for on various compounds of the annonaceaous acetogenins, the waxy substances of long chain fatty acids only found in the Graviola tree (muricata). Purdue University released a review Recent Advances in Annonaceous Acetogenins, stating Annonaceous acetogenins are "diverse bioactivities as antitumor, immunosuppressive, pesticidal, antiprotozoal, antifeedant, anthelmintic, and antimicrobial agents, have attracted more and more interest worldwide. Recently, we reported that the Annonaceous acetogenins can selectively inhibit the growth of cancerous cells and also inhibit the growth of adriamycin resistant tumor cells.” One study demonstrated that an acetogenin in Graviola was selectively cytotoxic to colon adenocarcinoma cells in which it was 10,000 times the potency of adriamycin (a chemotherapy drug). Cancer research is ongoing on Graviola, and four new studies have been published in 1998 which further narrow down the specific phytochemicals which are demonstrating the strongest anticancerous and antiviral properties. “Bioactivity-directed fractionation of the leaves of Annona muricata L. (Annonaceae) resulted in the isolation of two new Annonaceous acetogenins, muricoreacin (1) and murihexocin C (2). Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant cytotoxicities among six human tumor cell lines with selectivities to the prostate adenocarinoma (PC-3) and pancreatic carcinoma (PACA-2) cell lines.”