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GUYABANO
(Annona Muricata)
For a long time the fruit, leaves and bark from the tropical Guyabano tree
have been used as a natural medicine for many illnesses. And now it also
seems to be a natural cancer cell killer.
The Guyabano Tree
The Guyabano tree (latin name: Annona muricata) is a low-branching and
bushy but slender tree, which can reach a height of 7.5-9 m. The large
evergreen leaves are smooth and glossy and have a dark green upper
surface. The fruits are usually oval or heart-shaped and 10-30 cm long and
up to 15 cm in width. The skin of the fruit is leathery and covered with
curved, soft, pliable spines. When the tips of these spines can break off

easily, then the fruit is ripe enough to eat. The inside of the fruit is creamcolored and is divided into segments. Closely-packed segments are seedless
and other segments have a single oval, smooth, hard black seed. One piece
of large fruit can contain a dozen to 200 seeds or even more.
It tastes slightly acidic and it is used as food in different ways. For example
you can spoon the flesh out or make sherbets and drinks out of it. From the
leaves you can make tea.
The Guyabano tree is a tropical tree found in the warmest tropical areas in
North and South America, in the Amazon and in Asia.

Natural medicine
The bark, leaves, fruit, roots, and fruit seeds of the Guyabano tree know a
long history of many medicinal uses.

- The fruit and juice is used against worms and parasites,

to cool down fevers, to increase mothers milk after
childbirth. It can also be used for diarrhea or
inflammation in the bowels as a drying agent.
- The seeds can be crushed and then used against internal
or external parasites, head lice, and worms.
- The leaves are used as a sedative and a soporific
(inducer of sleep) in the West Indies and Peruvian Andes
when drank as a tea. This infusion is also used to relief
pain or for antispasmodic purposes. For liver problems a
leaf tea is used in the Brazilian Amazon.
- The roots and bark can be of aid for diabetes, but can
also be used as a sedative.
As you can see there are many uses of the Guyabano tree. These are just a
few ways how the Guyabano tree can be of aid in your health. Next to all of

these uses, it now also seems to help against cancer. Research has found
many biologically active compounds in the Guyabano tree, and one of these
compounds is able to destroy cancer cells.

The cure for cancer lies in a tree

The Guyabano tree consists of many chemicals, but what makes the
Guyabano tree special is that this tree contains a natural compound named
acetogenins. Research has found that this compound can slow the growth of
tumor cells and be toxic to tumor cells without harming healthy cells.
Especially the latter is a problem of recent anticancer drugs. Chemotherapy
kills growing cells, bad (the cancer cells) and good (the healthy cells). The
best cure for cancer is a product that can target only the cancer cells. And
this is just exactly what the natural compound found in the Guyabano tree
does.
The tree produces these acetogenins in the leaves, stem and bark. What
you can do is drink the extracts of the tree and this will help you fight
against cancer.
Chemical compound
What everyone would like is to make these acetogenins in big quantities, to
help everyone. However, the natural acetogenins are very complex in
structure and is not easily to make by chemists. To make it easier to produce
large amounts of this medicine, research has been done to find the active
parts of the compound against cancer. If the active parts can be found, the
medicine would be easier to produce and be more available to everyone.
Unfortunately, scientists have not been able to find the active parts of the
Guyabano tree.
Until then, you can turn to the natural acetogenins and drink the tea, juice
or
use
the
supplements.
How does it work?
Oberlies et al (1995) researched the capability of acetogenins to block, or
inhibit, the cell growth of tumor cells. They tested this on several cell
types in vitro; cancerous cells from mice and humans as well as noncancerous cells from the intestinal tract of rats. Results showed that the
more acetogenins was added with the cancerous cells, the more the cell

growth was blocked. In addition, the non-cancerous healthy cells were not
affected by the acetogenins and the cell growth was not blocked. These
findings can indicate that acetogenins can selectively block the cell growth of
tumor cells, while the healthy cells remain unaffected with minimal toxicity
by this compound.
In breast cancer the cancer gene epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)
is frequently overexpressed. Therefore, this cancer gene is a possible target
for breast cancer therapy. A study by Dai et al (2011) used a Guyabano fruit
extract and the extract inhibited or blocked the expression of the EGFR gene
and this resulted in an inhibition of 32% of the growth of breast cancer cells.
The non-cancerous breast cells were not affected by the fruit extract.
In 1997 Oberlies et al researched the ability of the acetogenins to block the
cell growth of specific tumor cells, adriamycin resistant human mammary
adenocarcinoma cells. These breast tumor cells are resistant to treatment
with adriamycin, vincristine and vinblastine. All three are anti-tumor drugs.
Because these tumor cells can not be treated with the drugs, the tumor is
called multidrug resistant (MDR). The research group used various
acetogenins derived from the Guyabano. The ones with a specific structure
(a stereochemistry of threo-trans-threo-trans-erythro) were the most potent
acetogenin and had 250 times the potency of adriamycin. This indicates that
acetogenins may have a chemotherapeutical potential, also against MDR
tumors.
Not only a "cancer cell killer"
Besides being helpful to fight against cancer, Guyabano can also help with
other
conditions
and
diseases.
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder where the patient remains to have
high blood sugar levels because the body is not able to produce insulin (type
1 diabetes), or the (pancreatic) cells in the body does not react to the
produced insulin (type 2 diabetes).Adeyemi et al (2010) studied the effects
of the extracts of Guyabano on diabetes mellitus. Thirty rats were divided in
three groups; a control group, a group of rats with induced diabetes and a
group of rats with induced diabetes and treatment of Guyabano extracts.
After the treatment the pancreatic cells were examined and the group
treated with Guyabano resulted in more pancreatic cells compared to the
untreated group. These results suggest that Guyabano may help in the

regeneration of pancreatic cells, and therefore in the treatment against

diabetes.
The same research group of Adeyemi et al (2008) also did a study where
they examined the effects of Guyabano extracts on the blood sugar levels of
induces diabetic rats. Results showed that the rats with induced diabetes had
an average blood sugar level of 21.64 mmol. The rats with induced diabetes
and which were treated with Guyabano extracts showed an average blood
sugar level of 4.22 mmol. This is a decrease in elevated blood sugar levels of
five times. The Guyabano extracts shows in this study again that it can be
useful for patients with diabetes.
A different research group, Adewole et al (2008), treated induced diabetic
rats with Guyabano extracts and examined the tissues involved with
diabetes. Results show, as well as the research group mentioned above, that
Guyabano extracts led to a decrease in elevated blood sugar. Additionally,
they found that Guyabano may also have protective and beneficial effects on
the tissues involved with diabetes.

Pain and inflammation

In animal models the effects of Guyabano extracts were investigated
regarding to pain and inflammation. After giving oral doses of Guyabano
extracts to mice, Vieira de Sousa et al (2010) recorded the reaction time of
the mice on a hot plate. The mice which received the Guyabano extracts
showed an increase in reaction time compared to the control mice. This
means that it took longer for the Guyabano treated mice to feel the hot
plate, and that the Guyabano can help reduce pain or reduce sensitivity to
painful stimuli.
Additionally, the same research group treated mice with swollen paws with
Guyabano extracts. When paws are swollen, there is an excess of fluid in the
paws and there is indication that there is inflammation in the paws. At a site
of inflammation, immune cells (leukocytes) migrate or move to this site. This
treatment resulted in a smaller volume of paws and a reduction of immune
cell migration. From this there can be concluded that Guyabano extracts can
also have anti-inflammatory properties.

Antibacterial effect
Vieira et al (2010) investigated the antibacterial effects of Guyabano extracts
on bacteria. They found that Guyabano extracts worked against the following
bacteria: Staphylococcus Aureus and Vibrio Cholerae. S. Aureus is a
bacterium which can lie on the skin and cause skin infections (such as

pimples), or more life threatening diseases like pneumonia. Cholerea is a

bacterium which causes cholera. The symptoms of cholera are diarrhea and
vomiting.
Guyabano and blood pressure
Animal studies have shown that Guyabano can have hypotensive activities,
which means that it can result in an abnormal low blood pressure. Guyabano
can also be used as a vasodilator (widening of the blood vessels, resulting in
a lower blood pressure). Caution should therefore be taken when using
Guyabano, especially when you have a low blood pressure, or if you take
antihypertensive drugs (blood pressure lowering drugs).
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor when it comes to
the development of cardiovascular diseases. Guyabano may be helpful to
reduce the blood pressure. In the West-Indies a research group investigated
this on rats. All rats had a normal blood pressure and Guyabano was
administered to the animals. Chukwuemeka et al. found that the blood
pressure in these rats reduced significantly in a dose-dependent way.1
This may indicate that Guyabano can also reduce the blood pressure in
humans. However, this has not been researched yet. All research at this
moment on Guyabano is done on cell lines (in vitro) or on animals.
Guyabano may be useful to treat a high blood pressure, but take caution
when you have a normal blood pressure. A blood pressure which is too low
(hypotension) is not healthy and can even be dangerous.
References
Technical data report
Morton, J. 1987. Soursop. p. 75-80. In: fruits of warm climates. Julia F. Morton, Miami,
Fl.
- Oberlies, NH, Jones JL, Corbett TH, Fotopoulous SS, McLaughlin JL (1995) Tumor cell
growth inhibition by several Annonaceous acetogenins, in an in vitro disk diffusion
assay. Cancer Lett, 96: 55.62.
- Yuman Dai,Shelly Hogan, Eva Schmelz, Young Ju, Corene Canning, Kequan
Zhou. Selective Growth Inhibition of Human Breast Cancer Cells by Graviola Fruit
Extract In Vitro and In Vivo Involving Downregulation of EGFR Expression, Nutrition
and Cancer, 63(5), 795801
- Adeyemi, D et al. Histomorphological and morphometric studies of the pancreatic islet
cells of diabetic rats treated with extracts of Annona Muricata. , Via Medica, 69(2),
92-100
Vieira de Sousa et al (2010), Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the
ethanol extract of annona muricata L. Leaves in animal models. International journal
of molecular sciences, 11, 2067-2078

- Vieira et al (2010), Antibacterial effect of Moringa oleifera and annona muricata

against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Rev. Inst. Med. Trop. Sao Paulo,
52(3), 129-32
J. Agric Food Chem. 2006 Dec 13;54(25):9329-39.
Blackberry,
black raspberry,
blueberry,
cranberry, red raspberry,
and
strawberry extracts inhibit growth and stimulate apoptosis of human cancer cells in
vitro

Seeram NP, Adams LS, Zhang Y, Lee R, Sand D, Scheuller HS, Herber D.

Green Tea: Potential Health Benefits

- raig Schneider, MD, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine
- Tiffany Segre, MD, Gorham Family Medicine, Gorham, Maine
Am Fam Physician. 2009 Apr 1;79(7):591-594
- Vitamins C and E: beneficial effects from a mechanistic perspective, Traber et al
(2011), free radical biology & medicine 51, 1000-1013
Selenium and health, M. Rayman (2012), the lancet, 11, 61452-9

Chukwuemeka et al, 2012, Possible mechanisms of action of the hypotensive

effect of Annona muricata (soursop) in normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats,
Pharmaceutical Biology, 50(11): 1436-1441

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Do Plants Grow Best In Chemical

Fertilizer, Organic Fertilizer, Or No
Fertilizer?

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based on 21 ratings

Author: Sofia PC
Topics: Middle School, Botany

Grade Level: 6th - 7th; Type: Botany

Objective:
Discover whether plants grow best in chemical fertilizer, organic
fertilizer, or with no fertilizer at all.

Research Questions:

Are chemical ingredients harmful?

What exactly defines the term organic?

Plants need water and sunlight in order to grow. They can also be
helped along by fertilizer, which is said to supply plants with
necessary nutrients. However, there are different kinds of fertilizer, and
some believe that fertilizer is simply uncessary. In this experiment,
we'll compare two different kinds of fertilizer to normal soil.

Materials:

Chemical fertilizer, such as Miracle-Gro

Organic fertilizer (pelleted chicken manure, bone meal, etc.)

Seeds (of any kind, but keep it at the same type)

Soil

Plant pots

Water

Sunlight

Ruler

Pen and paper for notes

Experimental Procedure:
1. Fill three pots with soil from the same source (in other words,
don't get your soil from different places).
2. Dig a small hole about 1- 1 inch deep into the soil of each pot
and put a seed into each hole. Bury the seed inside and give it a
pat.
3. Label the pots with the type of fertilizer it is going to contain:
chemical, organic, or none.

4. Add chemical fertilizer to one pot and organic fertilizer to another.

Do not put any fertilizer in pot number three.
5. Water the plants and take it to a location with adequate sunlight.
6. Monitor the seeds at their germination. Which one germinated
first?
7. Monitor the daily growth of the plant. Using a ruler, measure the
height of the plant and also, check the overall condition of the
plant until it reaches the desired height.
Suggested Chart
Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Chemical
Fertilizer
Organic Fertilizer

No Fertilizer

Terms/Concepts: Plant fertilizer; Botany; Plant growth; Plant

nutrients; Photosynthesis; Benefits of organic compounds over
chemical compounds
References:
http://www.scotts.com/smg/home/home1.jsp
http://home.howstuffworks.com/question181.htm
Evans, L. T. (1998). Feeding the Ten Billion - Plants
and Population Growth. Cambridge University Press. Paperback, 247
pages. ISBN 0-521-64685-5.
Sofia PC is currently a college student with a deep interest in science
who is aspiring to become a writer. She writes about all sorts of things
across all subjects including, but not limited to; science, crafts, and
fashion. She hopes to become a good writer so she can share her
thoughts and experiences with the world and future generations.