Graviola, also known as soursop or Brazilian paw paw, is the fruit of the Annona muricata evergreen tree. Soursop (Annona muricata) has its place amongst a unique plant family, Annonaceae, whose members include the cherimoya, custard apple and sugar apple, or pinha.
Native to tropical areas of Central and South America, it serves a dietary supplement used to treat many conditions.
Graviola is hailed as a wonder herb. Its popularity as a natural remedy for viruses, pain relief, and even some types of cancer is gaining ground. Keep reading to learn if research backs the hype.
Health benefits: Some people take graviola by mouth for infections caused by bacteria and parasites, cancer, diabetes, and to cause vomiting. Some people apply graviola directly to the skin for use as an insect repellent, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any of these uses. It is rich with calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus — not to mention it’s a source of vitamins C and A.