Not Your Average Graviola Review

photo credit: Tatters:)

The graviola tree is a small evergreen growing 15-20 feet tall, with large glossy dark leaves. Graviola is indigenous to the Amazon especially, but also to other tropical areas. It’s slightly bitter edible fruit is 6-9 inches in length, yellow green in color, and has white flesh. The fruit is sold in local markets where it is called Brazilian Cherimoya or Guanabana.

Family: Annonaceae

Genus: Annona

Species: Muricata

Graviola contains at least 50 chemicals believed to selectively kill cancer cells. Even though researchers aren’t studying graviola specifically (there is no money to be made from plants because you can’t patent them), they are focusing on the active compounds in graviola, called ACGs (acetogenins). ACGs are compounds which could potentially become a new generation of anti-cancer drugs.

AGCs have been shown to be selectively toxic to cancer cells, while being harmless to healthy cells. They are particularly attracted to a certain enzyme found in the cell walls of cancerous tumours. Once there, they inhibit ATP (the substance that gives cells energy). As the mechanism of cancer cell death becomes better known, ACGs become more and more promising. Apparently, the increased energy created by the cancer cells is one of their weak points.

Researchers from Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN), reported that 14 different ACGs tested thus far (including several found only in graviola) “…not only are effective in killing tumors that have proven resistant to anti-cancer agents, but also seem to have a special affinity for such resistant cells”.

Triggering death in cancer cells is the goal, and that’s what ACGs do.  They have been deemed promising candidates for future drugs to combat the new chemotherapy-resistant tumours.

Graviola’s specific acetogenins have been demonstrated selectively toxic to liver cancer cells:

Antitumor and antiviral activity of Colombian medicinal plant extracts

Novel cytotoxic annonaceous acetogenins from Annona muricata

I expect ignorance from the pharmaceutical companies, and they haven’t disappointed me yet. The Creator of the universe designed plants for people. Plants are extremely complicated organisms containing many thousands of elements working synergistically. Isolating a single element, then replicating it synthetically as a drug, is ignorant. It may be smart as far as sucking millions of dollars from an unsuspecting public, but stupid in the sense that the result will not be healing.  The result will be another prescription drug with an LD-50 rating (Lethal Dosage 50 Percent) and with side effects. But fear not … they have other toxic drugs to mask the side effects!

Cautions when taking graviola as a supplement (not as a food):

20-25% of graviola supplement users experience nausea and/or diarrhoea.

Do not take during pregnancy. Miscarriage could result.

Should not be taken with supplements that increase ATP, including coenzyme Q10, vitamin C, magnesium and some B vitamins.  Since graviola inhibits ATP, these nutrients may have a counteracting effect.

People with low blood pressure or those taking anti-hypertensive drugs are advised not to take graviola supplements.

Long-term use of graviola supplements may lead to the dying off of friendly flora in the intestinal tract. Adding probiotics and digestive enzymes will aid in counteracting the loss.

Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day while taking graviola supplements.

Conclusion:

If you can find graviola at your local supermarket, of course, add it to your arsenal of cancer defeating weapons, and defeat cancer faster.   Have no fear of side effects.  It’s a natural fruit.

photo credit: Fernanda Ramalho

If your only source of graviola is manufactured supplements, there probably isn’t much point.  This site provides better resources. While liver cancer was not designed by the Creator, He certainly saw it coming and provided a variety of natural cures.

In Depth Research on Graviola:

National Center for Biotechnology Information
RainTree