Soursop

Also called

Graviola

Regional names

Durian Belanda

Traditional use

These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.

• All parts of soursop are used in folk medicine:

  • The fruit juice is used for diarrhea, and in South America it is drunk to get rid of intestinal parasites.
  • Toasted, powdered seeds are used to cause vomiting and as a laxative.
  • In parts of Africa, all parts are used for stomachache, parasites, malaria, diabetes and cancer.

  The fruit is widely eaten in sweets, ice cream and juices.[1]

Laboratory & animal research

Lab and animal results show what might be worth studying in people. They don't show that the herb has these effects in humans.

• Soursop contains more than 200 plant compounds, including acetogenins. In lab and animal studies, extracts killed cancer cells and showed antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. These effects haven't been shown in people.[3]

Research in people

• A study compared 74 people with Parkinson's disease in the Caribbean, nearly all of whom had eaten soursop-family fruits, with 104 people with Parkinson's in mainland France. The Caribbean group had more severe movement and thinking symptoms. The authors say growing evidence points to these fruits being toxic and call for public warnings.[2]