MIRACULOUS ANNONA MURICATA LINN. (GRAVIOLA/SOURSOP): A HOLISTIC APPROACH OF ITS COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON TRADITIONAL USES, PHYTOCHEMISTRY, PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND MECHANISMS OF ACTION INVOLVED

Ravi Sharma, Lakha Ram, Ashok K. Kakodia, Upma Singh, Bina Rani and Raaz K. Maheshwari*

ABSTRACT

The use of anti-inflammatory natural products for cancer prevention and therapy is an appealing area of interest in the last decades. Annona muricata L. is one of the many plant extracts that have been explored owing to their anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. The leaves of the plant have been extensively investigated for its diverse pharmacological aspects and found eminent for anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. In this comprehensive review, all significant findings from previous investigations till date on the leaves of A. muricata, specifically on their anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities have been compiled. Annonaceous species, have been extensively investigated for and antioxidant properties. Phytochemical studies have identified the acetogenins, a class of bioactive polyketide-derived constituents, from the extracts of Annonaceous species, and dozens of these compounds are present in different parts of graviola. More than 100 annonaceous acetogenins have been isolated from leaves, barks, seeds, roots and fruits of A. muricata. This review summarizes current literature on the therapeutic potential and molecular mechanism of these constituents obtained from A.muricata.

Keywords: Ehanomedicinal, Acetogenins, Chemopreventive Phytochemistry, Anticancer, Anti-inflammatory, polyketide.