Search Results (91)

Annona muricata (soursop) is a tropical medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine across Africa, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. While its ethnomedicinal applications span a range of conditions, including infections, inflammation, and anemia-related symptoms, its potential relevance to hematopoiesis has not been systematically examined. This narrative review synthesizes ethnomedicinal knowledge, phytochemical composition, and experimental evidence to explore the biological plausibility by which A. muricata may indirectly influence hematopoietic processes. Bioactive constituents of A. muricata, including flavonoids, polyphenols, and acetogenins, have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties in preclinical models. These effects are particularly relevant given the established roles of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in disrupting hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell function and bone marrow homeostasis. Rather than proposing direct erythropoietic activity, this review emphasizes indirect, marrow-supportive mechanisms through which A. muricata may contribute to the preservation of hematopoietic function under conditions of physiological or inflammatory stress. The limitations of the current evidence base, including the predominance of in vitro and animal studies and the absence of direct hematopoietic endpoints in humans, are critically discussed. Overall, this review provides a cautious, integrative framework linking A. muricata bioactivity to hematopoietic regulation and highlights key gaps that must be addressed before any translational or clinical relevance can be established. Full article

Background: Prostate cancer remains a leading cause of male cancer-related mortality, largely driven by the dysregulated activation of the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway. The emergence of resistance, particularly in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), necessitates the discovery of innovative therapeutic approaches. This systematic review aims to consolidate contemporary evidence regarding natural products as bioactive alternatives capable of targeting the AR signaling axis. Methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases. The review identified and qualitatively analyzed 15 original research studies that investigated the efficacy and mechanisms of various natural compounds in modulating AR signaling. Results: The analysis reveals that natural products deactivate the AR signaling axis through diverse mechanisms. Neoisoliquiritin and α-terthienyl were found to suppress AR expression, activity, and nuclear translocation. Notably, α-mangostin facilitates the degradation of the AR-V7 splice variant, a key driver of treatment resistance. Manzamine A inhibits AR biosynthesis by targeting the transcription factor E2F8. Furthermore, alternative pathways are modulated through 5-α-reductase inhibition (Annona muricata compounds) and the activation of the non-classical membrane receptor ZIP9 by (-)-epicatechin to induce apoptosis. Conclusions: The emergence of resistance, particularly in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), necessitates the exploration of innovative therapeutic approaches. This systematic review consolidates contemporary evidence regarding natural products as potential bioactive alternatives for modulating the androgen receptor (AR) signaling axis. Rather than providing a definitive clinical roadmap, this work establishes a preclinical framework for identifying substances that may deactivate the receptor, break down its resistant forms, or prevent nuclear translocation. Full article

Soursop fruit (Annona muricata L.) exhibits a rapid loss of firmness during postharvest ripening, mainly attributed to pectin depolymerization and cell wall restructuring. Among the enzymes involved, rhamnogalacturonan lyase (RGL), belonging to the PF06045 protein family, contributes to the degradation of rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I), a key structural component of pectin. However, the regulatory mechanisms and transcriptional dynamics of RGL genes in tropical fruits remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to evaluate RGL in three soursop varieties (GUANAY-1, GUANAY-2, and GUANAY-3) during postharvest ripening through integrative bioinformatic, transcriptional, and enzymatic analyses. Bioinformatic analysis identified five soursop genes containing the PF06045 domain, designated RGL1–RGL5, which were grouped into three phylogenetic clusters. Differential expression analysis revealed that RGL1, RGL2, and RGL3 were differentially expressed, while functional enrichment analysis indicated that these genes are mainly associated with lyase activity and cell wall polysaccharide disassembly. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) revealed variety-dependent transcriptional patterns. RGL2 showed expression peaks on day 5 in GUANAY-1 and GUANAY-3 and on day 7 in GUANAY-2, while RGL3 reached its maximum expression on day 5 in all varieties. Enzymatic activity also varied among varieties, showing concordance with RGL2 and RGL3 expression in GUANAY-1, a delayed maximum in GUANAY-2, and a progressive decline in GUANAY-3. Principal component analysis explained 87.2% of the total variation, with enzymatic activity contributing mainly to PC1 and RGL2 and RGL3 expression to PC2. Overall, these results demonstrate differential regulation of RGL among soursop varieties and confirm its central role in RG-I degradation during postharvest fruit softening. Full article

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. Although cisplatin is widely used in chemotherapy, its clinical efficacy is often limited by adverse effects and resistance. Thus, natural bioactive compounds are gaining attention as complementary therapeutic agents. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-tumor effects of Annona muricata leaf extract on murine breast cancer 4T1 cells, used alone or in combination with cisplatin. Cisplatin induced intrinsic apoptosis through mitochondrial membrane disruption, up-regulation of the Bax gene and inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Cisplatin also promoted hypoxia by HIF1α gene expression, inflammation by TNFα and IL-6 gene expression, and induced cell cycle arrest at the sub-G1 phase by down-regulation of cyclin D1 and cyclin E1 genes. Annona muricata leaf extract triggered autophagy-mediated 4T1 cell death through mainly mTOR down-regulation and increased expression of Beclin1 and LC3 genes. It also induced cell cycle arrest at sub-G1 and S phases in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. When, combined with cisplatin, Annona muricata extract shifts the cell death pathway from intrinsic apoptosis toward autophagy by reduced caspase-3 gene expression and activity and enhanced LC3-I to LC3-II conversion. Moreover, Annona muricata extract attenuated cisplatin-induced inflammation by inhibiting TNFα and IL-6 gene expression and reinforced cell cycle arrest through suppression of the cyclin D1 gene. In conclusion, our results suggest that Annona muricata leaf extract exerts significant anti-tumor activity in breast cancer cells and may enhance cisplatin efficacy by shifting the signaling pathway from intrinsic apoptosis toward autophagy, and attenuating inflammation-related effects, supporting its potential use as a complementary therapeutic strategy. Full article

Annona muricata (soursop) produces secondary metabolites with antimicrobial and insecticidal properties. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to enhance the production of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the insecticidal activity of ethanolic leaf extracts from AMF-colonized soursop trees against the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and the triatomine bug Triatoma pallidipennis, a vector of Chagas disease. Ethanolic leaf extracts were obtained from trees inoculated with two AMF consortia (Cerro del Metate and Agua Dulce), with the species Rhizophagus intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae, and from non-mycorrhizal plants (SM). Extracts were tested in bioassays specific to each insect, including chemical and negative controls, and survival was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves. Extracts from plants colonized by F. mosseae exhibited insecticidal activity against S. frugiperda, causing 72% larval mortality, comparable to that of the commercial insecticide. In contrast, extracts from plants inoculated with the Agua Dulce consortium caused 65% mortality in T. pallidipennis adults. These extracts showed significantly higher annonacin content (µg·g⁻¹ DW). Overall, the results demonstrate that AMF colonization can enhance the synthesis of metabolites such as annonacins and contribute to increased insecticidal activity in A. muricata. Our findings suggest AMF-assisted cultivation has the potential to enhance botanical insecticides. Full article

Soursop fruit of Annona muricata L. is a delicious tropical fruit with several medicinal properties. Previous research focused mainly on postharvest fruit development. This study aims to study the changes during preharvest development and ripening of soursop fruit. Flowers were tagged, and fruit samples were collected at different developmental stages based on days after take-off (DAT). The weight changes, flesh firmness, ethylene production, respiration rate, pH, total acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), and cuticle thickness were measured. An increase in respiration rate from 7 to 41 mL CO₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹, a weight increase from 20 to 600 g, a pH decrease from 6.5 to 3.8, a firmness reduction from 20 to 0.8 N, and a cuticle thickness change from 6 to 4 μm were recorded. During preharvest, two different growth periods were recorded: a continuous increase in respiration rate and TSS, a slow decrease in TA, and a constant pH. Further, an increase in firmness was observed until 75 DAT and a decrease after 90 DAT. Cuticle thickness did not show significant changes. During postharvest, soursop fruit showed a sharp increase in TSS, TA, and a notable decrease in pH and firmness. A climacteric peak was recorded six days after harvest with a short postharvest shelf life. It was concluded that the fruit showed the typical behavior of a climacteric fruit. Also, future investigations should focus on the period between 105 and 120 DAT to identify the optimal harvest periods due to the relatively short postharvest shelf life. Full article

Indonesian people, especially the younger generation, often overlook the great potential of herbal leaves that are easily found around their homes. These leaves not only offer health benefits but also hold significant economic value. This research developed a system to classify 10 types of herbal leaves (Annona muricata, Anredera cordifolia, Piper betle, Ocimum basilicum, Peperomia pellucida, Psidium guajava, Isotoma longiflora, Coleus scutellarioides, Ageratum conyzoides, and Syzygium polyanthum) using artificial intelligence (AI). The study employed the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) method and the You Only Look Once (YOLO) v11 algorithm, focusing on evaluating the performance of YOLOv11 in three variants, Nano, Small, and Medium. The results showed that the YOLOv11 Medium variant achieved the best performance, with the highest mAP50-95 value of 0.743 and mAP50 of 0.974 at the last epoch. The YOLOv11 Small variant outperformed Nano in precision (0.947 vs. 0.933) and mAP50 (0.973 vs. 0.972), while YOLOv11 Nano had slightly higher recall (0.921 vs. 0.906). Confusion Matrix results for YOLOv11 Medium showed precision (P) = 0.932, recall (R) = 0.928, mAP50 = 0.974, and mAP50-95 = 0.743. Based on these metrics, YOLOv11 Medium stood out as the best-performing variant, followed by Small and Nano. This research highlights the potential of AI technology to enhance the utilization of herbal leaves, which can provide broader health benefits and support the local economy. Full article

The oxidation of meat and meat products can be delayed or mitigated through the use of natural antioxidants. Soursop leaf extracts have potential as a natural additive in meat products, offering a rich source of antioxidants. However, the impact and safety of incorporating soursop leaf extracts on the oxidative stability of meat products are not yet well understood. This study evaluated the antioxidant activity and acute oral toxicity of hydroalcoholic extracts from soursop leaves, as well as their effects on color and the oxidative stability of lipids and proteins in chilled Mexican Hairless pork patties. The results suggest that hydroalcoholic soursop leaf extracts may serve as a safe source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties, suitable for use as an additive in meat and meat products to reduce color loss and lipid oxidation, with a lesser effect on protein oxidation. Full article

A current problem is the increase in skin damage, including cancer, caused mainly by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays from sunlight. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the photoprotective effect to ultraviolet radiation of phenolics and acetogenic-rich extracts obtained from Annona muricata leaves applied to the skin of rats by means of gene expression in P53 and Rb, involved in tumor processes due to cell damage, in addition to the content of phenols, acetogenins and antioxidant activity present in the extract, which presented a total phenol content of 61.5 mg EAG/100 g of dry sample and flavonoids of 50 mg EQ/100 g. HPLC analysis revealed that the major compound was shikimic acid, followed by gallocatechin and 13 other phenols. DPPH analysis showed an inhibition of 64.37% and FRAP showed a value of 28,880 µmol Eq trolox/mL. The presence of acetogenins was verified by Kedde’s reagent in HPTLC. Histopathological findings in the treated groups (T4, T5) suggest thickening of the epidermis, which could be due to fibroblast proliferation. The results show a higher increase in P53 and Rb gene expression with the tested extracts compared to the positive control group, so it can be concluded that the extracts have positive effects. Full article

Background/Objectives: Annona muricata (AM), commonly known as soursop or guanabana, has long been used in traditional medicine for its purported anticancer properties. However, scientific studies evaluating its potential enhancing or additive effects with conventional antineoplastic drugs (ADs) remain limited. This study aimed to assess the cytotoxic effects of an aqueous AM infusion alone and in combination with standard ADs in cancer cell lines, while also evaluating its safety in healthy cells. Additionally, we explored the potential molecular interactions of AM metabolites with therapeutic targets using silico modeling. Methods: An AM infusion (125 and 250 µg/mL) was tested on two cancer cell lines—MDA-MB-231 (human triple-negative breast cancer) and TC-1 (murine HPV16-positive cancer)—as well as healthy human leukocytes and a non-tumorigenic mouse lung cell line. Cell viability was assessed using the Alamar Blue™ assay. The combined effects of AM with multiple first-line ADs were evaluated. In silico molecular docking was performed with Molegro Virtual Docker to assess the interaction of AM metabolites (quercetin and hyperoside) with the A2B adenosine receptor. Additionally, the physicochemical properties of 13 AD were analyzed to explore correlations with cytotoxic outcomes. Results: AM infusion alone exhibited low cytotoxicity in both cancer and healthy cell types. However, when combined with ADs, it enhanced cytotoxic effects in cancer cells while sparing healthy cells at the evaluated concentrations. Docking studies revealed strong interactions between quercetin and hyperoside (major metabolites in the AM infusion) and the A2B receptor, supporting a possible mechanistic explanation for the observed effects. Conclusions: AM infusion may act as a chemical modulator, potentiating the effects of conventional ADs in cancer cells while preserving normal cell viability. These findings encourage further preclinical exploration of AM as a complementary agent in integrative oncology. Full article

Polyphenols and flavonoids are bioactive organic compounds extracted from medicinal plants. They exhibit significant antioxidant and antibacterial properties, which help fight several chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer. Numerous therapeutic effects and a broad spectrum of biological activities are exhibited by the following five medicinal plants traditionally utilized in medicine for the treatment of diabetes and cancer: Ginger, ephedra alata, ajuga iva, nettle, and graviola (annona muricata). The objective of the present study is to examine ethanolic and aqueous extracts exhaustively obtained from these plants through decoction and maceration using ethanol, with particular emphasis on the content of total polyphenols and flavonoids, and to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial potential. The antibacterial effect was assessed on the strains Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The study was complemented by an FTIR analysis of the different extracts. The results indicate that for ginger, graviola, and ajuga iva, as opposed to ephedra alata, maceration appears to be the more efficacious technique compared to decoction. The highest yield (27.465%) was observed in the case of the ethanolic extract of ginger. Ethanolic extracts contain higher concentrations of polyphenols and flavonoids than aqueous extracts. The aqueous extracts of ajuga iva and nettle demonstrate the highest inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Full article

Traditional methods of synthesizing nanoparticles often rely on physical and chemical processes using synthetic hazardous chemicals. In contrast, the rise in green chemistry emphasizes using bioactive compounds from plants for the eco-friendly synthesis of nanostructures. These green synthesis techniques are increasingly recognized for their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and ability to yield non-toxic by-products, an approach that aligns with sustainable practices. In this research, a straightforward, cheap, environmentally friendly, and sustainable procedure was developed to fabricate Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) employing three different pulp extracts: Agave (Agave americana), Chiku (Manilkara zapota), and Soursop (Annona muricata) to serve in the synthesis as capping, reduction, or stabilization agent. Analytical characterization techniques confirmed the successful phytosynthesis of ZnO-NPs, evidenced by significant absorbance peaks of UV-Vis spectra at 362 nm, and the chemical composition of ZnO without noticeable traces of phytochemical residues by carrying out ATR-FTIR analysis. SEM, STEM microscopies, and XRD analysis verified that the ZnO nanoparticles possess spherical geometries and hexagonal crystal structures. The average size of these nanoparticles was around 15.94, 18.08, and 23.32 nm for Agave, Chiku, and Soursop extract-based synthesis, respectively. Additionally, the in vitro antibacterial activity of phytosynthetized ZnO-NPs was evaluated against E. coli and S. aureus, confirming effective bacterial growth inhibition and demonstrating their significant antimicrobial potential. Full article

Non-target organisms are not well studied. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of seven essential oils, two fixed oils, d-limonene and eugenol on the mortality, behavior and infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes (ENPs). The oils were diluted at 1% (v/v) in water with Tween^® 80 PS at 0.05% (v/v), and water with Tween^® alone was used as the control treatment. In the mortality test, 2 mL of solution containing 50 µL of the nematode suspension, 20 µL of oil/compounds solution isolated with Tween 80, and 1930 µL of water were placed in plastic containers. After four days, the number of dead juveniles was counted. In the bioassay of the behavior of the EPNs, the frequency of lateral body beats of the infective juveniles in liquid medium was analyzed after exposure to the solutions. In the infectivity test, after contact of the EPNs with oils and essential oil chemical compounds, the juveniles were washed and applied to second-instar Spodoptera eridania larvae. All oils and isolated compounds caused mortality in H. amazonensis and S. rarum, with Ocimum canum and the isolated compound eugenol showing the highest efficacy against H. amazonensis and O. canum, Eucalyptus citriodora, Zingiber officinale, Salvia sclarea and the isolated compound eugenol being the most effective against S. rarum. There was a reduction in the number of lateral beats of H. amazonensis and S. rarum for all treatments, with the exception of Cymbopogon winterianus in H. amazonensis and Annona muricata in S. rarum. The infectivity of H. amazonenis and S. rarum on S. eridania was reduced when exposed to the solutions, with the exception of the isolated compound d-limonene in both species, soursop for H. amazonenis and rosemary for S. rarum, which were classified as non-toxic to the species tested. The results obtained in this study may be useful for the choice of oils and essential oil chemical compounds with potential use in integrated pest management programs. Full article

This study focused on analyzing and comparing bioactive compounds, specifically phenolics, in the pulp and leaf of Annona muricata (soursop), a crop highly valued in Latin America for its culinary and traditional uses. Methanolic extractions of leaf and pulp were performed for phytochemical screening, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and measurements of antioxidant capacity. The results confirmed the presence of 15 phenolic compounds in the leaf and 14 in the pulp; these included phenolic acids and flavonoids. Shikimic acid was the main component identified, constituting 85 mg/g of the dry leaf sample and 17.50 mg/g of the dry pulp. The antioxidant capacity was determined using DPPH and FRAP. The percentages of inhibition were 70.93 and 15.10 in the leaf and pulp, respectively. This work expands our knowledge about the compounds present in A. muricata, which may be partly responsible for the known benefits of this plant for human health and nutrition. Full article

Background: Annona muricata L. (guanabana) leaves are rich in bioactive compounds with potential antioxidant properties. In the state of Colima, both ethanolic extracts and infusions are traditionally used in folk medicine to address various ailments. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts and infusions of A. muricata leaves from three geographic regions in Colima, Mexico, with a focus on how geographic origin affects their bioactive properties. Methods: Ethanolic extracts and infusions were prepared from A. muricata leaves and analyzed using phytochemical screening; DPPH, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total phenolic content (TPC) measurements; and HPLC. TLC was also conducted to examine the presence of specific compounds, such as flavonoids and phenols. Results: Both the ethanolic extracts and infusions contained significant levels of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic compounds. The infusions demonstrated superior antioxidant capacity, with DPPH inhibition values of 72.5%, 68.3%, and 65.1% in the northern, central, and southern regions, respectively, compared to the ethanolic extracts’ values of 50.3%, 48.9%, and 45.0%. HPLC identified quercetin as a major compound across all samples. Geographically, the northern region exhibited higher concentrations of bioactive compounds, particularly total flavonoid content (TFC) and iron-reducing power (FRPA). Conclusions: Both the ethanolic extracts and infusions of A. muricata leaves exhibited significant antioxidant properties, with the infusions showing superior performance. The results suggest that A. muricata infusions may have potential applications in managing oxidative stress-related diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Exploring their use in traditional medicine and employing this type of approach can help discern the metabolite profile responsible for these bioactivities. Geographic factors influence the bioactive profile of the plant, and further research is needed to isolate specific bioactive compounds and elucidate their therapeutic mechanisms. Full article