Is Graviola a Cure for Cancer?

Is graviola, a fruit from a Central and South American evergreen tree (Annona reticulata), a cure for cancer - and 10,000 times stronger than chemo? That's a rumor floating around online, so we decided to take a look.

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While we can’t completely dismiss claims that graviola may fight cancer, it is premature at best to spread unverified information about its effectiveness as a cancer fighter.
Most of the cancer-fighting discussion of graviola originates from Purdue University studies that have shown some positive anti-cancer properties of graviola. The full story as seen shared on Facebook is at the bottom of this article. It’s rather lengthy. Note that the first sentence is a tip-off that the post may be more about gaining shares than disseminating correct information, as the reader is asked to share first and then read the article!

This graphic is making its rounds on several social media sites.

While it is true that there have been some studies showing possible cancer-fighting properties, these studies have either been in mice or in test tubes – meaning it hasn’t been tested on human subjects yet. Further, there is evidence of potentially serious side effects. Let’s take a look at some opinions on graviola:
Dr. Andrew Weil, who is a champion of integrative medicine, combining alternative and traditional practices, has written on graviola, and pointed out that the Purdue study actually used substance from a related tree, the annona glabra (aka Pond Apple),  not the Annona reticulata. Dr. Weil consulted with another integrative medicine colleague from the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona and both recommended against taking graviola as a supplement for any reason.
WebMD
This popular conventional medical website appears to have a mixed opinion on graviola. First, they state:
There is evidence that some of the chemicals in graviola may keep cancer cells from removing anticancer drugs. This may help the drugs work better. Some chemicals in graviola may also kill cancer cells directly.
They later, however, describe it as an unsafe product:
Graviola is UNSAFE. It can kill nerve cells in the brain and other parts of the body. It may cause movement disorders similar to Parkinson’s disease.
Cancer Research UK
We looked to a non-US cancer center for info and found similar opinions on graviola. Among their findings about graviola, they state:
We know very little about how graviola affects the body. But we do know it can cause nerve changes, causing symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease… We do not support the use of graviola to treat cancer. 
Cancertutor.com
This website is strictly for alternative cures, and it compares graviola to another of its cousins, Paw Paw (Asimina triloba) in which the following is stated: “Paw Paw is clearly more powerful than graviola when treating cancer… ”
This site does suggest that graviola is accepted by the alternative medical community, but only as a weaker cousin to Paw Paw.
Studies
The story in circulation about graviola mentions that studies were done, but it doesn’t actually cite or link to any. Dr. Weil pointed out that he could find no human studies on graviola. Below are a few examples that we did find.

• A study showing showing graviola causes Parkinson’s-like symptoms.
• In-Vitro study showing “promise” against pancreatic cancer.
• A breast cancer study, in vitro and in mice, showing some promise.

10,000 Times Stronger Than Chemo
Thanks to a commenter, we were led to a 1996 study which is where the claims that Graviola is “10,000 times stronger than chemo” originated.  Though the study does in fact use the phrase “10,000 times the potency of adriamycin” this was referring to an isolate known as cis-annonacin - a compound which was isolated from Graviola seeds. These were laboratory experiments, and these compounds were not given to human subjects. Eating graviola fruit – unless you were to eat the seeds – would not provide you with this compound. Also note that it wasn’t reported how much of the compound was used or how much of it exists in a single seed.
Jamaican Story
Anecdotal stories such as this one from November 2012 keep hope that graviola may be a cure for cancer. As inspiring as such stories are, it is best to approach them with a cautious eye as they are unscientific conjecture, thus her progress could be falsely attributed to graviola. Without any sort of scrutiny of the materials or procedures used, it is impossible to know what led to her recovery, whether it was graviola, graviola seeds, or other factors.
Bottom Line
We could not find glowing endorsements of graviola from conventional, integrative, or alternative medicine.
Claims of graviola’s anti-cancer claims cannot be completely dismissed, though glowing endorsements are also perhaps premature. Further, despite early anti-cancer findings, there are almost equally disturbing results that graviola may do as much harm as it does good, potentially causing Parkinson’s-like symptoms.
If one of us here at waffles wanted alternative cancer ideas, our choice would clearly be to visit  cancertutor.com, which is quite in-depth and broad in its coverage.

Below is the article on graviola being circulated online:

SHARE THIS INFORMATION FIRST AND READ AFTERWARDS…..SAVE LIFE Share this as much as you can.
“10000 times stronger killer of CANCER than Chemo”.. do share it.. can save many lives, fill up hopes and build confidence in the patients…
The Sour Sop or the fruit from the graviola tree is a miraculous natural cancer cell killer 10,000 times stronger than Chemo.
Why are we not aware of this? Its because some big corporation want to make back their money spent on years of research by trying to make a synthetic version of it for sale.
So, since you know it now you can help a friend in need by letting him know or just drink some sour sop juice yourself as prevention from time to time. The taste is not bad after all. It’s completely natural and definitely has no side effects. If you have the space, plant one in your garden.
The other parts of the tree are also useful.
The next time you have a fruit juice, ask for a sour sop.
How many people died in vain while this billion-dollar drug maker concealed the secret of the miraculous Graviola tree?
This tree is low and is called graviola ! in Brazi l, guanabana in Spanish and has the uninspiring name “soursop” in English. The fruit is very large and the subacid sweet white pulp is eaten out of hand or, more commonly, used to make fruit drinks, sherbets and such.
The principal interest in this plant is because of its strong anti-cancer effects. Although it is effective for a number of medical conditions, it is its anti tumor effect that is of most interest. This plant is a proven cancer remedy for cancers of all types.
Besides being a cancer remedy, graviola is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent for both bacterial and fungal infections, is effective against internal parasites and worms, lowers high blood pressure and is used for depression, stress and nervous disorders.
If there ever was a single example that makes it dramatically clear why the existence of Health Sciences Institute is so vital to Americans like you, it’s the incredible story behind the Graviola tree..
The truth is stunningly simple: Deep within the Amazon Rainforest grows a tree that could literally revolutionize what you, your doctor, and the rest of the world thinks about cancer treatment and chances of survival. The future has never looked more promising.
Research shows that with extracts from this miraculous tree it now may be possible to:
* Attack cancer safely and effectively with an all-natural therapy that does not cause extreme nausea, weight loss and hair loss
* Protect your immune system and avoid deadly infections
* Feel stronger and healthier throughout the course of the treatment
* Boost your energy and improve your outlook on life
The source of this information is just as stunning: It comes from one of America ‘s largest drug manufacturers, th! e fruit of over 20 laboratory tests conducted since the 1970′s! What those tests revealed was nothing short of mind numbing… Extracts from the tree were shown to:
* Effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 types of cancer, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer..
* The tree compounds proved to be up to 10,000 times stronger in slowing the growth of cancer cells than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug!
* What’s more, unlike chemotherapy, the compound extracted from the Graviola tree selectively hunts down and kills only cancer cells.. It does not harm healthy cells!
The amazing anti-cancer properties of the Graviola tree have been extensively researched–so why haven’t you heard anything about it? If Graviola extract is
One of America ‘s biggest billion-dollar drug makers began a search for a cancer cure and their research centered on Graviola, a legendary healing tree from the Amazon Rainforest.
Various parts of the Graviola tree–including the bark, leaves, roots, fruit and fruit-seeds–have been used for centuries by medicine men and native Indians in South America to treat heart disease, asthma, liver problems and arthritis. Going on very little documented scientific evidence, the company poured money and resources into testing the tree’s anti-cancerous properties–and were shocked by the results. Graviola proved itself to be a cancer-killing dynamo.
But that’s where the Graviola story nearly ended.
The company had one huge problem with the Graviola tree–it’s completely natural, and so, under federal law, not patentable. There’s no way to make serious profits from it.
It turns out the drug company invested nearly seven years trying to synthesize two of the Graviola tree’s most powerful anti-cancer ingredients. If they could isolate and produce man-made clones of what makes the Graviola so potent, they’d be able to patent it and make their money back. Alas, they hit a brick wall. The original simply could not be replicated. There was no way the company could protect its profits–or even make back the millions it poured into research.
As the dream of huge profits evaporated, their testing on Graviola came to a screeching halt. Even worse, the company shelved the entire project and chose not to publish the findings of its research!
Luckily, however, there was one scientist from the Graviola research team whose conscience wouldn’t let him see such atrocity committed. Risking his career, he contacted a company that’s dedicated to harvesting medical plants from the Amazon Rainforest and blew the whistle.
Miracle unleashed
When researchers at the Health Sciences Institute were alerted to the news of Graviola,! they began tracking the research done on the cancer-killing tree. Evidence of the astounding effectiveness of Graviola–and its shocking cover-up–came in fast and furious….
….The National Cancer Institute performed the first scientific research in 1976. The results showed that Graviola’s “leaves and stems were found effective in attacking and destroying malignant cells.” Inexplicably, the results were published in an internal report and never released to the public…
….Since 1976, Graviola has proven to be an immensely potent cancer killer in 20 independent laboratory tests, yet no double-blind clinical trials–the typical benchmark mainstream doctors and journals use to judge a treatment’s value–were ever initiated….
….A study published in the Journal of Natural Products, following a recent study conducted at Catholic University of South Korea stated that one chemical in Graviola was found to selectively kill colon cancer cells at “10,000 times the potency of (the commonly used chemotherapy drug) Adriamycin…”
….The most significant part of the Catholic University of South Korea report is that Graviola was shown to selectively target the cancer cells, leaving healthy cells untouched. Unlike chemotherapy, which indiscriminately targets all actively reproducing cells (such as stomach and hair cells), causing the often devastating side effects of nausea and hair loss in cancer patients.
…A study at Purdue University recently found that leaves from the Graviola tree killed cancer cells among six human cell lines and were especially effective against prostate, pancreatic and lung cancers Seven years of silence broken–it’s finally here!