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Guyabano (scientific name: Anona muricata) is a heart shaped fruit with 10-30 cm long and up to 15 cm in width. The skin of the fruit is leathery and covered with curved, soft, pliable spines. When the tip of these spines can break off easily, then the fruit is ripe enough to eat. The inside of the fruit is cream-colored and is divided into segments. Closely-packed segments are seedless and other segments have a single oval, smooth, hard black seed. One piece of large fruit can contain a dozen to 200 seeds or even more.
It tastes slightly acidic and it is used as food in different ways. For example you can spoon the flesh out and make a drink out of it or produced it into candies, tarts, shakes and ice-cream and from the leaves you can make a tea.
A native of tropical America, guyabano was introduced into the Philippines at an early date and is no cultivated in all parts of the Archipelago.
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The plant grows in any kind of soil, but a fairly deep, friable soil of volcanic origin is conducive to growth and fruiting. It thrives very well from sea level up to 500 meters above sea level. Medicinal Use of Guyabano
Guyabano has been used as folkloric herbal medicine in many regions through the world. It is considered to be antispasmodic, sudorific and emetic. A decoction (boiling in water) of guyabano leaves is used to kill bedbugs and head lice. To reduce fever, a decoction of leaves can be taken internally or the leaves added to bathing water also have the same effect.
The crushed fresh leaves are also applied on skin eruptions for faster healing. A poultice of young guyabano leaves is applied on the skin to alleviate rheumatism and other skin infections like eczema. Applied during the healing of wounds, this can result in less or no skin scars. The decoction can also be used as a wet compress on swollen feet and other inflammations.The juice of the fruit is taken orally as a herbal remedy for urethritis, haematuria and liver ailments. Medicinal Benefits of Guyabano
Urinary Tract Infection
Guyabano fruits are rich in Vitamin C which is very effective in preventing Urinary Tract Infection. It increases the acidity of the urine thus, reducing the presence of bacteria. Vitamin C has also an essential role in boosting the body's immune system. Digestive Problems
When it comes to digestive problems, Guyabano is also excellent in preventing constipation and other digestive conditions such as colon related diseases. For individuals who wish to lose weight in a natural way, they don't actually need to take laxatives since guyabano is effective in relieving constipation. It is also rich in fiber which is essential for the overall health of the digestive system. Leg Cramps
Guyabano is also rich in potassium which is effective in relieving leg cramps and rheumatism. Lack of potassium in the body can cause weakness. In fact, the potassium content of guyabano (Soursop) is half in bananas. Energy
One of the best Medicinal Benefits of Guyabano Leaves is the boost of the body’s energy level. For those who always feel tired or weak, guyabano leaves or fruits are essential in boosting the body's energy. It is rich in thiamin, potassium and sugar which are all essential nutrients in boosting the body's energy. This is an organic energy which doesn't cause negative side effects to the body. Cholesterol
Fresh fruits and vegetables are all essential in reducing the body's bad cholesterol level. Guyabano is rich in Niacin which is essential in increasing the body's good cholesterol level. This is an essential diet to include for individuals who have a high cholesterol level in their body. Anemia
Guyabano is rich in iron which is essential in preventing blood related diseases such as anemia. Anemia is a condition of the body which characterized by lack of healthy red blood cells. Some anemic consider taking iron supplements but it is still natural to obtain it from fresh fruits and vegetables.
Skin Infection
The leaves of Guyabano (Soursop) is also effective in curing acne, scars, inflammation and other common skin problems. The leaves need to be crushed and applied to the infected area of the skin. Natural medicine
The fruit and juice is used against worms and parasites, to cool down fevers, to increase mother’s milk after childbirth. It can also be used for diarrhea or inflammation in the bowels as a drying agent. The seeds can be crushed and then used against internal or external parasites, head lice, and worms. The leaves are used as a sedative and a soporific (inducer of sleep) in the West Indies and Peruvian Andes when drank as a tea. This infusion is also used to relief pain or for antispasmodic purposes. For liver problems a leaf tea is used in the Brazilian Amazon. The roots and bark can be of aid for diabetes, but can also be used as a sedative. The cure for cancer lies in a tree
Initial findings show that guyabano is a miraculous natural cancer cell killer, 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy. The guyabano tree consists of many chemicals, but what makes the guyabano tree special is that this tree contains a natural compound named ‘acetogenins’ in the leaves, stem and bark. Research has found that this compound can slow the growth of tumour cells and be toxic to tumour cells without harming healthy cells. It effectively targets and kills malignant cells in 12 types of cancer, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer.
A research has been conducted and showed that the extracts from guyabano can attack cancer safely and effectively with an all-natural therapy that does not cause extreme nausea, weight loss and hair loss. It also protects your immune system and avoids deadly infections; feels stronger and healthier throughout the course of the treatment; and boosts your energy and improves your outlook in life. The US National Cancer Institute reportedly performed the first scientific research on graviola was in 1976.
The results showed that the plant’s leaves and stems were found effective in attacking and destroying malignant cells, but the results were supposedly published in an internal report, it was never released to the public. The creamy and delectable flesh contains from 60 to 100 black-brown seeds that are indigestible and non-edible. The flesh of the guyabano consist of a white edible pulp that is high in carbohydrates (particularly fructose) and considerable amounts of Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, potassium and dietary fiber. It is low in cholesterol, saturated fat and sodium. Chemical compound
What everyone would like is to make these acetogenins in big quantities, to help everyone. However, the natural ‘acetogenins’ are very complex in structure and is not easily to make by chemists. To make it easier to produce large amounts of this medicine, research has been done to find the active parts of the compound against cancer. If the active parts can be found, the medicine would be easier to produce and be more available to everyone. Unfortunately, scientists have not been able to find the active parts of the Guyabano tree. Until then, you can turn to the natural acetogenins and drink the tea, juice or use the supplements. How does it work?
Oberlies et al (1995) researched the capability of acetogenins to block, or inhibit, the cell growth of tumour cells. They tested this on several cell types in vitro; cancerous cells from mice and humans as well as non-cancerous cells from the intestinal tract of rats. Results showed that the more acetogenins was added with the cancerous cells, the more the cell growth was blocked. In addition, the non-cancerous healthy cells were not affected by the acetogenins and the cell growth was not blocked.
These findings can indicate that acetogenins can selectively block the cell growth of tumour cells, while the healthy cells remain unaffected with minimal toxicity by this compound. In breast cancer the cancer gene ‘epidermal growth factor receptor’ (EGFR) is frequently overexpressed. Therefore, this cancer gene is a possible target for breast cancer therapy. A study by Dai et al (2011) used a guyabano fruit extract and the extract inhibited or blocked the expression of the EGFR gene and this resulted in an inhibition of 32% of the growth of breast cancer cells.
The non-cancerous breast cells were not affected by the fruit extract. In 1997 Oberlies et al researched the ability of the acetogenins to block the cell growth of specific tumour cells, adriamycin resistant human mammary adenocarcinoma cells. These breast tumour cells are resistant to treatment with adriamycin, vincristine and vinblastine. All three are anti-tumour drugs. Because these tumour cells cannot be treated with the drugs, the tumour is called multidrug resistant (MDR). The research group used various acetogenins derived from the Guyabano. The ones with a specific structure (a stereochemistry of threo-trans-threo-trans-erythro) were the most potent acetogenin and had 250 times the potency of adriamycin. This indicates that acetogenins may have a chemotherapeutical potential, also against MDR tumors. Other conditions and diseases
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder where the patient remains to have high blood sugar levels because the body is not able to produce insulin (type 1 diabetes), or the (pancreatic) cells in the body does not react to the produced insulin (type 2 diabetes). Adeyemi et al (2010) studied the effects of the extracts of guyabano on diabetes mellitus. Thirty rats were divided in three groups; a control group, a group of rats with induced diabetes and a group of rats with induced diabetes and treatment of guyabano extracts.
After the treatment the pancreatic cells were examined and the group treated with guyabano resulted in more pancreatic cells compared to the untreated group. These results suggest that guyabano may help in the regeneration of pancreatic cells, and therefore in the treatment against diabetes. The same research group of Adeyemi et al (2008) also did a study where they examined the effects of guyabano extracts on the blood sugar levels of induces diabetic rats. Results showed that the rats with induced diabetes had an average blood sugar level of 21.64 mmol.
The rats with induced diabetes and which were treated with guyabano extracts showed an average blood sugar level of 4.22 mmol. This is a decrease in elevated blood sugar levels of five times. A different research group, Adewole et al (2008), treated induced diabetic rats with guyabano extracts and examined the tissues involved with diabetes. Results show, as well as the research group mentioned above, that guyabano extracts led to a decrease in elevated blood sugar. Additionally, they found that guyabano may also have protective and beneficial effects on the tissues involved with diabetes.
Pain and inflammation
In animal models the effects of guyabano extracts were investigated regarding
to pain and inflammation. After giving oral doses of guyabano extracts to mice, Vieira de Sousa et al (2010) recorded the reaction time of the mice on a hot plate. The mice which received the guyabano extracts showed an increase in reaction time compared to the control mice. This means that it took longer for the guyabano treated mice to feel the hot plate, and that the guyabano can help reduce pain or reduce sensitivity to painful stimuli. Additionally, the same research group treated mice with swollen paws with guyabano extracts. When paws are swollen, there is an excess of fluid in the paws and there is indication that there is inflammation in the paws. At a site of inflammation, immune cells (leukocytes) migrate or move to this site. This treatment resulted in a smaller volume of paws and a reduction of immune cell migration. From this there can be concluded that guyabano extracts can also have anti-inflammatory properties. Antibacterial effect
Vieira et al (2010) investigated the antibacterial effects of guyabano extracts on bacteria. They found that guyabano extracts worked against the following bacteria: Staphylococcus Aureus and Vibrio Cholerae. S. Aureus is a bacterium which can lie on the skin and cause skin infections (such as pimples), or more life threatening diseases like pneumonia. Cholera is a bacterium which causes cholera. The symptoms of cholera are diarrhea and vomiting. Guyabano and blood pressure
Animal studies have shown that guyabano can have hypotensive activities, which means that it can result in an abnormal low blood pressure. Guyabano can also be used as a vasodilator (widening of the blood vessels, resulting in a lower blood pressure). Caution should therefore be taken when using guyabano, especially when you have a low blood pressure, or if you take antihypertensive drugs (blood pressure lowering drugs). High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor when it comes to the development of cardiovascular diseases. Guyabano may be helpful to reduce the blood pressure. In the West-Indies a research group investigated this on rats. All rats had a normal blood pressure and guyabano was administered to the animals.
Chukwuemeka et al.found that the blood pressure in these rats reduced significantly in a dose-dependent way. This may indicate that guyabano can also reduce the blood pressure in humans. However, this has not
been researched yet. All research at this moment on guyabano is done on cell lines (in vitro) or on animals. Guyabano may be useful to treat a high blood pressure, but take caution when you have a normal blood pressure. A blood pressure which is too low (hypotension) is not healthy and can even be dangerous.
The Capability of Aloe Vera in Losing Weight
Aloe Vera juice is prepared from the aloe vera gel. This aloe vera product can be consumed internally which help the person in obtaining internal advantages of aloe vera. There are several advantages of aloe vera juice. The Aloe Vera plant has been used for centuries as a medicinal plant. The Egyptians referred to it as the “plant of immortality,” according to the Maharishi Ayurveda website. It was revered by the Egyptians and included among funeral gifts that were buried with the pharaohs. The aloe plant has long been recognized by ancient Indian, Chinese, Greek and Roman parties for its many healing benefits. Nutritional Contents
Aloe vera has high amino acid content, which are components of protein. Several amino acids contained in aloe vera drink play a role in proper carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. When these nutrients are metabolized effectively, the body stores less fat. In addition, the Aloe Vera Research website reports that aloe vera contains over 75 vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other vital nutrients, making it an essential part of any weight loss program. Dieting usually requires food restriction, which makes it more difficult to ensure proper intake of all the recommended daily nutrients. Supplementation with aloe vera drink aids in adequate nutrition throughout the weight loss process by supplying vitamins and minerals without any significant calories. Aloe Vera Juice & Weight Loss
Obesity is like a plague which is spreading in the world in numbers of people. There are various factors for the increase of weight. There are numbers of people who are following various remedies for weight loss but these cures are upsetting their workouts and diets in their daily life. The people find it difficult to maintain their body weight for a particular time period. So, aloe vera juice is a perfect supplement which can be taken in a diet to reduce the excess weight. Aloe Vera is a boon for losing the weight, because it doesn’t only loss weight but also increases the energy content in the body. Aloe Vera acts as antibacterial and antifungal one too for protection of the body from many microbes.
Aloe Vera acts as an anti oxidant one and detoxifying agent for the body. Fiber is also equally important for the body which is not provided by the food available now days in the market, but is provided by the Aloe Vera. The aloe vera helps to absorb the food easily from the intestine and the colons of the body. Aloe Vera also helps to reduce the water cells proportions which are not good for the body and hence helps for the good maintenance of the kidneys and urination problems. There are a number of Aloe Vera Juice Benefits for Weight Loss. It can help a person in reducing weight and can stimulate the metabolic rate of the body. This results in increased energy consumption in the body.
As a result of this, the food that is eaten is converted into energy at a faster rate and is utilized by the normal functions of the body. This prevents conversion of this energy to fat. It also mobilizes the unused, stored fat in the body and converts it into energy that is again utilized faster. This helps the patients with an obesity problem to lose their weight faster due to the reduction of excess fat from the body. As the fats and carbohydrates stored in the body are utilized by our energy consuming functions, it helps in reducing and stabilizing the body-mass index in obese patients. Aloe stimulates the metabolic rate in the liver, which results in burning more energy.
Aloe Vera also has a high content of collagen protein, which makes your body spend more energy to absorb the protein. By breaking down foods, helping the digestive system run smoothly and aiding the body to perform optimally, aloe Vera can help with weight management. Aloe Vera is very rich in proteins and collagen. The energy consumption in the digestion of collagen is high. So the body has to spend more energy for the digestion of this juice due to the high collagen content. This extra loss of energy helps in burning more calories and reduces the weight of the person. Also, aloe Vera reduces the duration of time for which the food stays in the intestine.
This means that a lesser amount of time is available to the intestine for the absorption of food. This results in less amounts of food being absorbed into the body as the rest is excreted via the stools. This way, aloe Vera helps in reducing the intake of the patients, indirectly, and reduces the weight. It also helps in cleansing the colon. For this reason, the plant is also called ‘the dietary plant’. Aloe Vera does not cause any side effects as in case of other options of weight loss like weight-loss pills, liposuction etc. It is purely a natural product and does not interfere with the normal functioning of the body. It facilitates weight loss in a harmless and healthy manner. Recommendations
The Aloe Vera Research website recommends drinking 2 to 4 oz. of aloe vera drink two times per day to assist in weight loss. Possible side effects of aloe vera supplementation include allergic reactions, nausea, and dermatitis and liver problems. To avoid unwanted side effects, do not overuse aloe Vera juice. Drink only the recommended dosage and discontinue if side effects occur. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not drink aloe vera juice, and individuals with heart or kidney disease, or those allergic to onions or garlic should not drink aloe vera juice. To gain the benefits of the medicinal uses of aloe vera, you will have to consume two to four ounces of aloe Vera juice a day. If consumed daily, it also aids in digestion, detoxifying the body, and cleansing the colon.
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The Effectiveness of Guyabano as Medicine. (2016, Apr 27). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/the-effectiveness-of-guyabano-as-medicine-essay
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