Research shows it may have anticancer properties, but evidence for prevention or treatment is not yet conclusive.
This article presents information about soursop and what is known about its medicinal properties.
It also discusses the risks in choosing this alternative treatment for cancer.
Lorenzo Vecchia / Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images
It’s important to remember that the research evidence on using soursop in cancer prevention or treatment is limited.
What Is Soursop?
It is green with a prickly outer texture and a soft and creamy internal texture.
The taste is commonly compared to a strawberry or pineapple.
In America, the fruit is most widely known as soursop.
Other names include custard apple,cherimoya,guanabana, and Brazilian pawpaw.
Soursop can be consumed as a fresh fruit, supplement, and tea.
It can also be consumed as an ingredient in jelly, ice cream, and juice.
Nutritional Benefits and Uses
Soursop has many nutritional benefits.
The fruit provides:
It’s high inantioxidantproperties and more.
Claims about its benefits include treating fevers, managing hypertension, improving sleep, and reducing inflammation.
For cancer, it is used as a popular herbal remedy in other parts of the world.
The leaves can also be used to make a tea.
What is known is that soursop contains manyphytochemicals, compounds known to have anticancer effects.
There is not enough human data to support anticancer claims about soursop.
Although these were promising results, researchers concluded that more studies are needed.
Further studies need to be conducted to show whether or not it is effective in humans.
Many diagnoses are already in theadvanced stagesbecause the disease often presents with no specific early clinical symptoms.
Research studies have reported soursop extract shows promise for pancreatic cancer therapeutics due to its anti-tumor characteristics.
Alternative medicine should always be considered as a supplement and not a replacement for standard therapies.
Risks
There are some risks to using soursop.
Its long-term use could lead to toxicity in the liver and kidneys.
At least one study has confirmed its neurotoxin properties.
Summary
Soursop is a fruit used in alternative medicine around the world.
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