Graviola (Soursop)

Graviola (Soursop) belongs to the genus Annonaceae and comprises about 150 species.
It is a small tree of tropical South America, no more than 20 feet tall; the oblong to oval leaves are leathery, very dark and shiny green.
They have a pungent odor when crushed.
The tree has larger individual yellow flowers on woody stalks (pedicels).

Graviola fruit is prickly and oblong or somewhat curved; with a length of 13 inch and a weight of up to 8 pound.
The tree may bear fruits anywhere on its trunk or branches.

The fruit has 40 - to 100 black seeds.
The creamy, aromatic pulp is used in ice cream and as a juice: it is rich in vitamin B and C.
It has a musky, sub - to acid flavor.

Graviola is used extensively in alternative cancer treatment and prevention; it has a high success rate.
There are phytochemicals in the leaves, seeds and stem of the guanabana which are cytotoxic against various types of cancer cells.
There is ongoing cancer-research on this plant concerning the specific phytochemicals (Annonaceous acetogenins) that are demonstrating the strongest anticancer and antiviral properties.