2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Graviola / Annona muricata / comes from the botanical family Annonaceae. It is a small evergreen tree that reaches a height of 5-6 meters. Graviola has large dark green and shiny leaves. It bears large fruits that reach 15-23 cm in diameter and are yellow-green in color, but with a white inside.
Graviola occurs in the warm tropics of North and South America, including the Amazon. The fruits of graviola are sold in local shops in the tropics, where they call it guanabana - in Spanish-speaking countries and graviola in Brazil.
Composition of graviola
Graviola contains a number of chemicals that can be useful in serious diseases such as cancer, as well as against pathogens. In the chemical composition of graviola include anon acetogenins - anohexocin, anocatalin, anomontacin, anomutacin, cohibin A to D, korepoxylon, javoricin, montanacin, montecristine, muricapentocin, isoanonacin, muricatalin and others.
Selection and storage of graviola
In our country the fruit graviola it is not yet found, but graviola-based supplements can be purchased instead. They can be purchased from specialty stores or online stores. The supplements are relatively expensive - for example, about 60 ml cost about BGN 50.
Dosing of graviola
The appropriate dose of graviola depends on factors such as age and health. There is still insufficient scientific information on the basis of which to determine the appropriate amount of doses of graviola. However, it should be borne in mind that natural products are not always safe and should not be overused.
Benefits of graviola
All parts of graviola can be used - leaves, bark, seeds, stem, roots, fruits. In some Polynesian islands, graviola tea is taken daily to lift the mood. Apart from being a medicine, the fruit is regularly consumed in South America as a tasty and very refreshing fruit.
Graviola and graviola products have a very good nerve-toning and calming effect, while significantly lifting the mood. The calming effect on the whole body is related to the ability of the graviola leaf extract to lower blood pressure.
It is scientifically proven that the fruit extract of graviola contains three important compounds that act as serotonin in the brain. Graviola has good cytotoxic properties, which means that it has the ability to kill cells that do not function properly.
Extracts from the leaves, root, seeds, stem are antibacterial against a large number of pathogenic bacteria, separately the bark has antifungal properties. Graviola seeds show strong antiparasitic properties. Crushed graviola seeds are used as a remedy against external and internal parasites, lice and others.
The bark, root and leaves of the plant are used as antispasmodics, sedatives and blood-reducing agents. In addition, they strengthen the condition of the nerves.
As far back as 1976, the National Cancer Institute discovered that the stem and leaves of graviola show active cytotoxicity against cancer cells. Much of the research into the effect of graviola on cancer has focused on a newly discovered type of phytosubstance called anon acetogenins.
Harm from graviola
Graviola is not safe. In 2002, the journal Movement Disorders published a study linking the high rate of movement disorders seen in Native Americans to the overuse of graviola fruit. So far, however, no concrete evidence of a possible link has been provided. Consumption of graviola is contraindicated for pregnant women and nursing mothers.
People with low blood pressure should also avoid consuming graviola. On the other hand, graviola can lead to the destruction of the normal intestinal flora in the digestive tract. It is recommended that if the plant is used for a period longer than 30 days, digestive enzymes and probiotics be added to the diet.
If taken in large doses, nausea and vomiting may occur. In this case, the dosage should be reduced.
