What are the Health Benefits of Guanabana? This fruit in Latin is called “Annona muricata” and is a fruiting tree that is still classified as the Annonaceae family. One of the benefits taken from Guanabana is the anti-cancer found in the leaves. However, traditional medicine uses all parts of the guanabana tree as medicine. Among them are treating malaria, inflammation, diabetes, parasites, and cancer.
Read our article about the health benefits of guanabana. But before we see these benefits, let’s first see the important information about Guanabana.
Introduction for Guanabana
Maybe you have never heard of Guanabana, but have heard of Soursop. Soursop or Graviola is another name for guanabana. These are plants from South America and the Caribbean. Now, this plant has been cultivated extensively because of its extraordinary benefits. Guanabana is still in the custard family. Its distribution area now includes Africa and southern Asia.
In addition to health benefits, guanabana is also famous for its soft and sharp flesh. In the traditional world, they have used this plant to treat various diseases such as malaria and even fever. Guanabana has been examined and examined for its superiority, and it can prevent cancer and other chronic diseases.
Guanabana Components
Here are some of the nutrients in guanabana:
- Contains potassium
- Contains Calcium
- Sodium
- Copper
- Contains iron, and
- Magnesium
While guanabana leaves and seeds contain large amounts of vitamins C and E. They are responsible for chronic diseases because they are famous for antioxidants.
More than 200 chemical compounds were found in Guanabana. The most famous are alkaloids, phenols, and acetogenins. The most active phytochemistry in guanabana is found in leaves, seeds, and stems. These chemicals act against tumor parasites, cancer, inflammation, microbes, and insects.
Mechanism of Action
The pulp and skin of guanabana extract are useful for reducing inflammation in mice cells by reducing inflammatory mediators (COX, nitric oxide, TNF-α, and IL-1β). Guanabana leaf extract fights diabetes in mice reduces blood sugar levels and influences insulin increase. This event occurs due to increased levels of antioxidants in the liver, reducing fat oxidation and preventing pancreatic β-cells.
In observations using a microscope, cell models in guanabana leaf extract showed antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals and cleaning them. This reduction of free radicals will prevent cell damage, DNA, and protein. So, the guanabana leaf extract is able and useful to reduce tumor cells and cancer by:
- Blocking energy production in cancer cells
- Increases programmed cell death (apoptosis) in cancer cells.
Guanabana leaf extract enhances apoptosis in cancer cells by:
- To activate mitochondrial-mediated pathways with NF-kB and Bcl-Xl
- Changing cancer cells in their structure
- Inspect the mitochondria of cancer cell membranes that cause damage to cancer cells.
- Prevents cell division thus avoiding cell proliferation
- Creating reactive oxygen species
Health Benefits of Guanabana
1. Guanabana Has Anti-Cancer Effects
Acetogenins in guanabana are very effective molecules to prevent and kill cancer cells. This phytochemical is produced in guanabana fruit, leaves, stems, bark, and in guanabana seeds. Acetogenins are toxic to cancer cells and are capable of killing cancer cells, but they do not interfere with normal cells. Based on the anti-cancer, the health benefits of guanabana are as follows:
Guanabana Treating Colon Cancer
In a DB-RCT study involving 28 participants who had colorectal cancer, they were treated with guanabana extract. Patient blood samples were treated with guanabana leaf extract which is toxic to cancer cells, especially colon cancer. Guanabana leaf extract is useful for reducing cancerous tissue in the large intestine of mice.
Cancer cells in mice injected with guanabana extract were far less than those not given this injection. Acetogenins extract from guanabana seeds also functions as a poison against colon cancer and its strength is stronger than 10000 compared to chemotherapy.
Guanabana Combats Breast Cancer
The 66-year-old woman can stabilize breast cancer cells by consuming guanabana tea every day for 5 years. He also took the medication with chemotherapy while consuming this tea.
Guanabana treats prostate cancer
Through apoptosis, mice that have prostate cancer can be treated with guanabana leaf extract. So, guanabana leaves reduce prostate tumor growth in mice. However, the content of acetogenins alone can kill mice due to poisoning.
Based on several studies, the guanabana leaf extract can suppress prostate cancer cell growth.
Guanabana treats lung cancer
The content of acetogenins extracted from guanabana leaves can kill lung cancer cells. This possibility occurs due to cancer cell apoptosis.
Guanabana can treat skin cancer
The use of guanabana leaf extract topically can stop skin tumors in mice, this is due to the high antioxidants in guanabana leaves. Guanabana leaf extract can function as a poison against skin cancer.
Guanabana is capable of treating liver cancer
Guanabana’s health benefits are killing liver cancer. This is the result of several studies conducted by medical experts. The method of treatment is possible with the mechanism of stress accumulation in cells and apoptosis.
Guanabana against pancreatic cancer
Guanabana stem and leaf extract are useful for reducing the tumor tissue of the pancreas by 50%. It is good for linking tumor growth and cancer.
Guanabana extract against cervical cancer
Furthermore, the health benefits of guanabana leaf extract are reducing cervical cancer cells and preventing the growth of up to 80%. Annonacin is an acetogenin extract derived from soursop or guanabana seeds. He was able to increase cancer cell apoptosis by 65%. This is related to DNA damage due to cancer cells.
Guanabana is useful for treating leukemia
Guanabana is also beneficial for blood cancer or leukemia. Twigs, leaves, roots, and guanabana seeds can induce apoptosis in leukemia cancer cells. It works by reducing the ability of cancer cells to survive.
2. Guanabana Has Antioxidant Effects
Antioxidants that come means plants like guanabana can prevent free radicals that cause cancer cells.
Based on research, the concentration of antioxidants in guanabana leaves, and fruit can prevent oxidation damage to cells. Furthermore, guanabana flower extract also contains high antioxidants and can be used to preserve food oils.
Antioxidants in guanabana combine with polyphenols, tannins, carotenoids, and anthocyanin content.
3. Guanabana against Pathogens
Guanabana skin, leaves, and seeds extracted indicate the presence of anti-microbes against various microorganisms including parasites, viruses, gram-positive, and gram-negative bacteria.
4. Guanabana is useful for fighting parasites
Lab test results, guanabana skin is more effective in treating leishmaniasis than obtaining modern chemistry. Acetogenins derived from guanabana leaves and seeds are very toxic to Leishmania and a worm.
Extracts from guanabana leaves show anti-parasitic activity, it can kill adult eggs, larvae, and Haemonchus and can kill intestinal parasites in sheep.
Guanabana kills bacteria
The results of laboratory studies show that the extracts of guanabana seeds, leaves, roots and skin are useful against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Enterobacter aerogenes, Staphylococcus albus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterococcus faecalis, Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Providencia stuartii bacteria.
Guanabana is useful for fighting viruses
Extracts from the guanabana stem are useful for preventing and suppressing the herpes simplex 1 virus in monkey kidneys. This extract is also useful for reducing herpes simplex virus 2 in human throat cells. In addition, guanabana extract also provides benefits for mushroom killing. It can prevent the growth of Candida albicans.
4. Guanabana prevents mosquito-borne diseases
Guanabana leaf extract can reduce malaria activity and can prolong life in mice. This plant leaf extract and seeds are very toxic to mosquito larvae which causes malaria, and dengue fever.
Isolated acetogenins are poisons to mosquito larvae because they prevent mitochondrial electron transport, resulting from installed energy production in larval cells.
5. Guanabana is useful for reducing inflammation.
Skin and guanabana tree pulp are useful for reducing inflammation in mice because they reduce chemical mediators (COX and nitric oxide). Guanabana leaf extract reduces chronic inflammation in mice by reducing the levels of inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide, TNF-α, and IL-1β)
6. Guanabana is useful for diabetes
In research conducted on rats, rat blood sugar can be reduced with guanabana leaf extract, not only this but this extract can also increase insulin.
Another function of guanabana leaf extracts is regenerating beta-cells in mice with high sugar levels. The content of phenol in fruit extracts, skin, and guanabana leaves acts as a key enzyme against type 2 diabetes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase)
7. Guanabana is useful as an insect poison
Not only treat diseases in humans, but the health benefits of guanabana leaf extract can also kill adults and egg masses. It functions as a pesticide.
Acetogenins found in guanabana act as a poison against plant pests such as green peach aphid, and potato beetle, and so do the African cotton leafworm.
Benefits of Soursop Leave or Guanabana for Diabetes
We not only use the fruit but also use the leaves for the herb in treating various diseases. Referring to the content of soursop leaves like calcium, potassium, vitamin C, phosphor, fiber, fat, and carbohydrates, the benefits of soursop leaves are very much at all. One of the benefits of guanabana leaves is for treating diabetes.
Diabetes is a disease that indicates the insulin does not work properly, so the glucose builds up in the blood. There are several types of diabetes and its causes:
1. Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a type of diabetes that is caused by a lack of insulin in the blood. It occurs because of the lack of different cells that produce insulin.
2. Type 2 Diabetes
The disease is caused by abnormalities in metabolism caused by mutations in many genes. Diabetes mellitus type 2 can be overcome by exercising and maintaining a healthy diet to keep the intake of carbohydrates in the body.
Type 3 Diabetes mellitus
The occurrence of type 3 diabetes usually occurs in pregnant women. This disease usually can be cured by itself after a pregnant woman gives birth. However, if a pregnant woman does not maintain good health she could have this disease affect pregnancy. Maintaining a healthy diet and regular is the way to overcome the disease of type 2 diabetes.
How to make Guanabana Herb for Treating Diabetes
1. The first way
Benefits of soursop leaves for diabetes can be obtained by making this herb. The trick is to boil 10 soursop leaves rather old with 2 cups of water. Reserve 1 cup of water. Make this drink in the morning and afternoon.
2. The second way
The benefits of soursop leaves for diabetes can also be made by drying the leaves of the soursop. Dry the soursop leaves as many as 10 leaves until thoroughly dry. Mash until smooth or milled into a powder. Then brewed with hot water as tea. You can add honey to add flavor. Drinking in the morning and afternoon.
Health Benefits of Soursop Leaves (Guanabana Leaves)
Soursop is native to South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Its tree grew with a height of 7 to 10 meters. The Soursop fruit is spiny and soft, with a sweet and sour taste, and Soursop fruit flavors like strawberry. Soursop is a plant that has been popular lately because it is known to have many health benefits. The content of anti-cancer substances in the soursop makes it an extremely attractive plant. Irrespective of the anti-cancer, soursop also has other health benefits.
The soursop leaf is a very useful part of this plant. It contains acetogenin that has bu Lata Cin compound, maximizing, squamosal. This substance-making soursop leaf is often used in killing insects or repelling insects. A scientific study conducted by the National Cancer Institute proved that the leaves of the soursop can attack and destroy cancer cells. Not only in the treatment of cancer but soursop is also used in some other treatments.
Soursop leaves contain many compounds such as protein, calcium, fructose, fat, vitamin A, vitamin B, and others. It means soursop leaves have medicinal properties that can cure various diseases. Here are some health benefits of soursop leaves.
1. Treating cancer
Soursop leaves can be a potent drug for inhibiting cancer growth and treating cancer more quickly than chemotherapy. Chemotherapy does not have an adverse effect, and the price is also expensive. In fact, according to the study, soursop leaves have a stronger strength of 10000 in the fight against cancer cells than chemotherapy.
The benefits of soursop leaves can cure cancerous cells, either prostate cancer, breast cancer, or lung cancer. How to make a potion of soursop leaves is: boiling soursop leaves as many as ten sheets with 3 cups of water, reserving one cup of water, straining, and drinking every morning for four weeks.
2. Treating Gout
The benefits of soursop leave to treat gout. Many alternative treatments are now using soursop leaves as a herb in treating gout. To treat gout, requiring 6 to 10 leaves of the soursop, take old and still green soursop leaves, boiled with 2 cups, reserving 1 cup. This portion is taken two times a day, i.e., morning and afternoon.
3. Treating back pain
For those of you who frequent back pain or pain in the back. You should consume herbal concoctions of soursop leaf. Consuming chemicals often causes side effects. However, the use of soursop leaves can cure back pain without side effects.
How to make a decoction: Boil soursop leaves as many as 20 sheets in 5 cups of water, leaving as much as 3 cups. Drink 3/4 cup a day.
4. Treatment of Eczema and Rheumatism
Rheumatism is a disease that often affects adults. The pain is very severe. Soursop leaf is a natural remedy for treating arthritis, and rheumatism. For this purpose, crushed leaves of the soursop until smooth, and apply to the area of pain due to arthritis and eczema. Use regularly two times a day.
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5. Treating diabetes
Soursop leaves are useful for treating diabetes and normalizing blood sugar levels. Normal blood sugar levels are 70 mg to 120 mg. Soursop leaf extract could be used as one of the natural remedies for treating diabetes.
6. Immune System and prevents Infections
The health benefits of Soursop leaves are also able to boost immunity and prevent infection. Boil 4/5 soursop leaves in 4 cups of water. Boil until the remaining 1 cup, and regularly drink one time a day.
Health Benefits of Soursop or Guanabana Juice
These benefits of soursop juice cannot be separated from the amount of nutrients in it. A lot of the nutrients in soursop make a lot of people look for this fruit, soursop fruit prices are now even including expensive than in the past. Soursop contains a lot of vitamin C, potassium, calcium, protein, beta-carotene, zinc, fiber, carbohydrates, magnesium, and much other content.
1. Enhance immune
The content of vitamin C in soursop is vital for improving immunity. Vitamin C can also be useful as an antioxidant that will fend off free radicals in the body.
2. Digestion
Soursop contains soluble fiber that is beneficial for digestion. Fiber is an essential substance for removing fat and binding with feces.
3. Lower bad cholesterol and improved good cholesterol
Health Benefits of Soursop Juice to lower cholesterol. Soursop contains a substance called niacin. These substances bind cholesterol and remove it from the body. Niacin also prevents the buildup of bad cholesterol in the blood vessel walls.
4. Maintain healthy bones and teeth
Furthermore, soursop juice is also magnificent for healthy bones and teeth because it contains a lot of phosphorus and calcium. Both of these substances are useful for adequate nutrition of bones and teeth.
5. Prevent Cancer
Health Benefits of Soursop Juice for Cancer. Soursop fruit contains antioxidants that are helpful to counteract free radicals in the body. In addition to antioxidants, soursop juice also contains many phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are substances that have anti-cancer properties that are excellent soursop juice to ward off cancer.
6. Preventing anemia
Its other health benefits of soursop. Anemia is a symptom that makes the body limp and lackluster could even lead to other health disorders. Soursop contains a lot of iron, so it’s good for the formation of healthy red blood cells and prevents anemia.
