Graviola (soursop)

What is graviola?

Graviola comes from a tree in the rain forests of Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. It is a common food there.

Its scientific name is Annona muricata. It is also known as:

• soursop

• guanabana

• brazilian paw paw

The active ingredient is a type of plant compound (phytochemical) called annonaceous acetogenins.

People use graviola pulp in juices, smoothies and ice cream.

Why people with cancer use it

People in Africa and South America use the bark, leaves, root, and fruits of the graviola tree to treat:

• infections with viruses or parasites

• rheumatism

• arthritis

• depression

• sickness

We know from research that some graviola extracts can help to treat these conditions.

In laboratory studies, graviola extracts can kill some types of cancer cells including liver, breast and prostate cancer cells. But there have not been any studies in humans. So, we don't know whether it can work as a cancer treatment or not.

Many sites on the internet advertise and promote graviola capsules as a cancer cure. But reputable scientific cancer organisations do not support them.

How you have it

Graviola comes in the form of fruit powder, leaf or stem powder, and pulp extract.

Side effects

We don’t know much about how graviola affects the body. But some chemicals in graviola concern scientists. It may cause nerve changes and movement disorders. 

The nerve changes may cause symptoms like Parkinson's disease. Laboratory research has found that some substances in graviola can cause nerve damage. It crosses into the brain from the bloodstream.

One research study has looked at Caribbeans eating large amounts of graviola. It found that they were more likely to develop certain nerve changes.

Studies on animals found that graviola may lower blood sugar and blood pressure. Talk to your doctor first before taking graviola if you have diabetes or high blood pressure. Graviola may also cause damage to your kidneys and liver if taken frequently.

It is unlikely that drinks or foods containing graviola could harm you when taken as part of a normal diet.

Talk to your doctor before taking any kind of complementary or alternative therapy.

Research into graviola as a cancer treatment

Websites or magazines often promote graviola. They base their claims on unsupported opinions and anecdotal evidence. There isn’t reliable scientific evidence that graviola works as a cancer treatment.

A 2015 ​systematic review​  found that several studies show positive results in using graviola. But there still needs to be more robust and systematic clinical trials to test and confirm its value in cancer treatment. And to see if it is safe. Only then can it be used as a treatment for cancer.

A 2018 review found that graviola can be used as a chemopreventive agent. This means it stops cancer from happening. It has also been found to be effective against many cancers. However, these were laboratory studies and not human trials. There has to to be further studies and evidence to prove it has the same effects in humans.

Another review in 2018 agrees that there are no valid human clinical trials for graviola.