Annona muricata L.
[From Latin, annona = yearly produce
and muricata = muricate]
Common names:
Sour sop;
corrossolier (French),
pulippala
(Tamil);
mempisang,
durian b’landa,
sri kaya blanda,
nona
blanda (Malay);
goyabrano,
guanabano (Filipino);
mak khieb
thet,
mang can xiem,
tiep parang (Vietnamese).
Physical description:
It is a fruit tree native to tropical
America, probably introduced in the very early times by the Spaniards. The
leaves: simple, alternate, exstipulate and 5.5 cm–18 cm × 2 cm–7 cm. The blade is
oblong, lanceolate-obovate, often shortly acuminate at the apex, and sparingly
appressed and hairy beneath. The flowers are at first green, then ripening into
yellowish-pale. The outer petals are 3.5 cm–5 cm long, acuminate, when the
inner ones are imbricate, obtuse and 2.5 cm–3.5 cm long. The stamens are 4mm–5mm
long and the carpels are numerous and free. The fruits are heart-shaped,
muricate, green, 15 cm–35 cm × 10 cm–15 cm and edible (Fig. 4).
Fig. 4. Annona muricata L.
Pharmaceutical interest:
Cytotoxic property: In regards to the cytotoxic property of Annona
muricata L., a number of experiments conducted in vitro have
clearly demonstrated that acetogenins are drastically antineoplastic.
Annopentocins A–C, cis- and trans- annomuricin D-one inhibit the
proliferation of lung carcinoma cells (A549), colon cells (HT29) and pancreatic
cells (PACA) cultured in vitro, with potencies equal to or greater than
that of adriamycin (Bories C et al., 1991; Liaw CC et al., 2002).
Neurological properties: Anonaine, nornuciferine, and asimilobine from
Annona muricata L., block 5-hydroxytryptaminergic (5HT1A)
receptors (Hasrat JA et al., 1997) thereby substantiating the anxiolytic
use of the plant. Such a property is not surprising since the molecular
structures of anonaine, nornuciferine and asimilobine are similar to that of serotonine.
5-Hydroxytryptaminergic (5HT1A) receptors mediate in the central nervous
system the autonomic control of hypothermia, hyperphagia, analgesia, blood
pressure, venereal desire, anxiety and several behavioral paradigms. It has
been hypothesized that the anxiolytic property of buspirone is on account of a
blockade of 5-hydroxytryptaminergic (5HT1A) receptors. Methysergide,
a partial 5-hydroxytryptaminergic (5HT1) agonist, and sumatriptan, a
5-hydroxytryptaminergic (5HT1D) agonist, are drugs used to assuage
headache.
There is an expanding body of evidence to
suggest that over representation of atypical Parkinsonism and progressive
supranuclear palsy in the French West Indies could be due to the ingestion of Annona
muricata L. A case-control work carried on 87 patients with Parkinsonism
indicates that 29 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy and 30 patients with
atypical Parkinsonism were regularly ingesting the fruit of Annona muricata
L. (Caparros-Lefebvre D et al., 1999). Movement disorder is a
symptom of extrapyramidal motor dysfunction and a prominent manifestation of
diseases affecting the basal ganglia.
The basal ganglia receives impulses from
different parts of the cerebral cortex and plays a key role in the control of
movement.The basal ganglia consists of the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus
pallidus, substancia nigra and subthalamic nucleus, which are interconnected by
dopaminergic and cholinergic neurons, deep within the cerebral hemispheres
(Fig. 5). Under normal condition, the dopaminergic system inhibits the
cholinergic output. In the case of Parkinsonism, the dopaminergic neurons of
the substancia nigra fail to control the cholinergic output, thus resulting in
tremors, rigidity and akynesia. Antipsychotic drugs reducing the concentration
of striatal dopamine (reserpine) or blocking the dopaminergic D2 receptors
(phenothiazines and butyrophenones) are well-known to cause Parkinsonism. Are
anonaine, nornuciferine, and asimilobine able to block the dopaminergic D2
receptors of the basal ganglia or do they enhance the cholinergic activity?
Ingestion of Annona muricata L. causes galactorrhea and tremors (Rom’an
G, 1998), two typical symptoms of dopamine D2 blockade.
Oxoaporphine, aporphine, and a series of phenanthrene alkaloids characterized
from Annona purpurea inhibit significantly the aggregation of platelets
(Chang FR et al., 1998), suggesting the inhibition of phospholipase A2.
Fig. 5. Hypothetic mechanism of action of
Annona muricata L. alkaloid on the central nervous system via blockage of dopaminergic D2 receptors in the basal ganglia. ACH: acetylcholine ALK alkaloid of Annona muricata; C cortex;DA: dopamine; GP: globus pallidus; SM striated muscle; putamen; SN: substanci nigra; T: thalamus.
Uses:
The tanniferous unripe fruits and bark of Annona muricata L. are
eaten so as to stop dysentery and diarrhea. In Indonesia, the crushed leaves
are applied externally to heal boils and a powder of the dried leaves is used
to kill insects. A decoction of the leaves is drunk to expel intestinal worms.
In Malaysia, a liquid preparation containing the leaves is applied externally to
treat rheumatism, and to alleviate cough and fever. A poultice of the powdered
leaves is applied externally to soothe inflamed parts and to treat skin
diseases. In the Philippines, the green bark is applied externally to heal wounds
and to stop bleeding, and a decoction of the leaves is used to wash ulcers and
to heal wounds. In Vietnam, an infusion of leaves is drunk to combat anxiety.
In India, the oil expressed from the seeds is applied to the hair to kill lice,
but it burns the eyes.
References
Bories C, et al. (1991) Planta Med 57(5):
434–436.
Caparros-Lefebvre D, et al. (1999) Lancet
354 (9175): 281–286.
Chang FR, et al. (1998) J Nat Prod 61(12):
1457–1461.
Hasrat JA, et al. (1990) J Pharm
Pharmacol 49(11): 1145–1149.
Liaw CC, et al. (2002) J Nat Prod 65(4):
470–475.
Rom’an G. (1998) Curr Opin Neurol 11(5):
539–544.
Warning:
Cases of association of cancer (due to tannins) and Parkinsonism (due to
alkaloids) following ingestion of Annona muricata L. are possible.
