Research
According to Nicholas Oberlies, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, the leaves, stem, bark and seeds of graviola contain a group of chemicals known as annonaceous acetogenins. These chemicals have demonstrated the ability to curb the growth of normal cancer cells as well as cancer cells that have developed resistance to chemotherapy treatment, known as multi-drug-resistant cancer cells.
Claims
The annonaceous acetogenins present in graviola appear to starve normal cancer cells as well as multi-drug-resistant cancer cell of glucose, according to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Extracts from the plant also appear able to block the access of the cancer cells to adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, the molecule that all cells use to store energy. Therefore graviola may have some effectiveness in the treatment of virulent cancers that no longer respond to chemotherapy medication.
Controversy
Though research into graviola and cancer is definitely promising, to date there are no human trials to support any of these claims. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D., the evidence that graviola kills cancer cells only exists in vitro -- that is to say, in test tubes in laboratories -- and not in people with cancer. Until clinical trials definitively prove the value of graviola to cancer patients, the utility of graviola as a cancer treatment remains a nice idea.
Final Word
The annonaceous acetogenins that graviola contains may help cancer patients, particularly those whose cancers have developed resistance to chemotherapy drugs. However, solid evidence from well designed human trials must occur before graviola can be recommended as a cancer fighting agent. Speak to your doctor or health care practitioner before you supplement graviola if you have cancer.
