What You Should Know About Soursop

Soursop is a small upright evergreen tree that grows up to 6 metres tall. With a large dark and shiny green and leathery leaves, which has a pungent odour when crushed.

Its fruit (soursop) is large and has a heart-like shape, covered with small spine-shaped structures. The pulp is fleshy, soft and white in colour, with a slightly sour-acid taste and it can be eaten out-of-hand.

Nutrition Facts:

Amount Per 100 grams1 cup, pulp (225 g)1 fruit (7" x 5-1/4" dia) (625 g)100 grams

Calories 66% Daily Value 

*Total Fat 0.1g 

saturated fat 0.1g 

Monounsaturated fat 0.1 g 

Cholesterol 0 mg 0% 

Sodium 14 mg 0% 

Potassium 278 mg 7% 

Total Carbohydrate 17 g 5% 

Dietary fiber 3.3 g 13% 

Sugar 14 g 

Protein 1 g 2% 

Vitamin A 0% 

Vitamin C 34% 

Calcium1% 

Iron 3% 

Vitamin D 0% 

Vitamin B-6 5% 

Vitamin B-1 20% 

Magnesium 5% 

*Per cent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

What are the major useful part of soursop tree. 

In natural medicine practice, all parts of the soursop tree are used as medicine, including the roots, barks, stems, leaves, fruits and the fruit-seeds.

Each part of the tree has long been shown to have different therapeutic properties and Chemical Constituents.

Many scientific analyses have shown that soursop contains many nutrients, including protein, sugar, fatty acids, dietary fiber, Vitamins C, B1, B2, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium chloride.

It also contains many bioactive compounds and phytochemicals, such as alkaloid, citric-acid, malic-acid, stearic-acid, stepharine, tannin, vinblastine, etc.

Therapeutic Properties:

Generally, it is known that soursop has a broad spectrum antimicrobial, antispasmodic, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, astringent, cardio tonic, diuretic, emetic, galactagogue, immunity boosting, laxative, liver tonic, sedative and activities.

Besides these activities, the main interest in this plant is because of its strong anti-cancer or anti-tumour properties and effects.

Medicinal Uses:

Various parts of the plant- leaves, stems, fruits and seeds- have been shown to contain phytochemicals, which are cytotoxic against various types of cancer cells, including colon, breast, ovarian, uterine, prostate, lung, pancreatic, anal, kidney, liver, lung and skin cancers.

Soursop fruit or the fruit juice can be taken to prevent or treat cancer.

The fresh leaves and stems of the plant can also be used for the same purpose.

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About one handful of the fresh leaves and stems of soursop is cut into pieces and boiled in 1 (One) litre water until the water is reduced to half. This is then strained and up to100 ml is taken orally morning and night. The decoction can be sweetened with pure honey.

Soursop has been proven to be a miraculous natural cancer cell killer and it is said to be 10,000 times stronger than most chemotherapy drugs.

Unlike chemotherapy, which indiscriminately destroys both cancerous and normal cells, the compound extracted from the soursop selectively kills only cancer cells without harming the healthy and normal ones.

Other uses include:

The fruit juice of soursop is creamy, with musky, sub-acid to acid flavour, sometimes used in ice cream.

It is rich in Vitamins B and C. It is commonly taken after childbirth to help increase mother’s breast milk to cool down feverish conditions, chill and flu, as an astringent for diarrhea and dysentery and for intestinal parasites.

Hair and skin problems: 

Soursop is good at treating hair problems such as split ends, dandruff, and falling hair, greying, and head lice. To derive these benefits make a tea from the leaves and use it as a hair rinse. The natural ingredients in the leaves, when mashed until soft and applied directly to the affected area, are good at treating eczema as well as skin infections such as acne. 

Treating blood disorders:

Due to its high rich in iron, teas made from soursop fruit and leaves are great for treating anemia and increasing red blood cell count. It is also good for reducing hypertension; and because of its antibacterial properties, it is very effective in curing infections. Placing a whole fresh leaf on a cut, sore, or wound should help healing progress more quickly than when left. 

Disorders of the organs: 

Soursop leaf tea can treat gallbladder problems, and it can even lower glucose levels in diabetics by stimulating increased insulin production by aiding the beta cells in the pancreas.

Immune system booster: 

Soursop leaves also contain gentisic acid, annonacin, annocatalin, and anonol that strengthen the immune system. Soursop tea can be used to perk up and feel better quicker when having cold and flu. 

Painful swollen feet: 

To reduce the discomfort brew some soursop tea and use as a foot soak.

Caution

Soursop has been found to be a potent uterine stimulant. Therefore, it should be avoided during pregnancy.

High doses of the infusion (tea) or decoction may cause nausea and vomiting.

Presently, the plant has not shown any recorded drug interaction.