Natural therapies can help foster mood and pain relief, and may be customized for detoxification therapies. At the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre, herbal supplementation is a type of holistic medicine offered to our patients – and soursop is one plant-based medicine to be aware of!

Depending on your health goals, taking this herb may be advised. Also known as Brazilian paw-paw, custard apple, or graviola, soursop can be prepared in various formats (i.e. teas, capsules, tinctures and powders), and may be handy for reducing inflammation and improving digestion. 

Here, we provide a brief profile of this plant medicine and its potential health benefits. (And if you want to explore other herbs for your needs, You can find our contact information at the end of this article!)

Key Facts About Soursop

• • The fruit from the soursop plant bears a resemblance to an extra-large thorny avocado. Its origins are based in the Caribbean, Central and South America, with a sweet, tangy taste suggestive of apples, mangoes, strawberry and pineapple. 
  • Unripe soursop, especially its roots, seeds, and leaves, may be effective as a bug repellent or garden pesticide. The seeds are not meant to be consumed, as they contain annonacin, a type of neurotoxin that can impede cellular functions. Annonacin may be harmful when excessive amounts are ingested. 
  • However, the flesh and pulp of the fruit are chock-full of vitamins, protein, carbohydrates, and water, and may be readily consumed as a low-calorie snack or blended into beverages. It’s suitable to eat the fruit as dietary fibre, and it contains iron, magnesium, vitamin C, folate, potassium, phosphorous, copper, niacin, and riboflavin.  
  • Traditionally, folk medicine practitioners used soursop for fevers, breastmilk production, parasitic infections, diarrhea, pain, headaches, coughs, and high blood pressure. According to a journal article from Foods, “Soursop pulp, leaves, peels, and seeds are rich in phenolic compounds that give the fruit numerous health benefits,” which is why it may be valuable as a supplement. 

Potential Medicinal Effects 

Soursop has been shown to have antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory functions. Some of the beneficial effects are listed below:

• • May be advantageous for constipation: If you suffer from chronic constipation, this supplement may provide you with some relief. The fruit contains plenty of water and soluble and insoluble fibre. Both of these types of fibres are needed for regulating bowel movements and bulking-up stool.   
  • Shows promise in helping to fight bacteria: Soursop contains strong antibacterial properties, with the potential to lessen the severity of bacterial infections. In one study, Healthline confirmed that “Soursop was able to effectively kill off multiple types of bacteria, including strains that cause gingivitis, tooth decay and yeast infections.”
  • May lessen inflammation: Findings have shown that the fruit’s potent anti-inflammatory functions are likely due to its phytochemical profiles, which include alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and more. Phytochemicals are plant-based substances that have been tied to preventing chronic diseases. In lab studies, soursop leaves were found to inhibit the construction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, making this plant possibly suitable for managing chronic pain and arthritis. 
  • Might contain anti-cancer properties: Further research is needed, but so far, Soursop has been reported to exert anti-cancer effects in laboratory and animal studies. Soursop is ladened with acetogenins, which are chemical compounds that can destroy cancer cells. The fruit’s flavonoids have also been thought to induce apoptosis (cell death) for cancer. “It has been suggested that [soursop] could serve as a natural product source for the development of drugs that induce apoptosis in cancer patients,” confirms a paper from the Journal of Food Quality.

Note: Soursop may lower blood pressure and could interact with antihypertensive medications, potentially leading to hypotension. Soursop should be avoided during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and by individuals with diabetes, kidney disease, or liver dysfunction, unless supervised by a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult with an integrative functional practitioner, such as one from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre, to determine if soursop is proper for you. 

Do you need help understanding how herbal medicine can support your health? We invite you to meet us for an in-person or virtual consultation. Our personalized integrative medicine services are applicable for a wide variety of health issues, including neurodegenerative conditions, fertility (pre-conception care), mood (i.e. persistent sadness), hormonal imbalances, fatty liver disease, coronary artery disease, and more. Let’s explore the root of your health concerns today!

Suggested reading: 6 Supplements for Managing ADHD: A Toronto Functional Medicine Tip Sheet

Book Your Functional Medicine Consultation with Us 

Botanical medicine ingredients, such as soursop, can be safely integrated into a treatment plan. In our Yorkville clinic, we tailor health strategies to match your unique biology. Our naturopathic doctors have extensive experience handling botanical remedies, so we can carefully ensure that herbal products don’t interact with your prescription medications. 

All of our treatment modalities, including herbal remedies and IV therapy, are adapted with the functional medicine model. This is a formal healthcare paradigm that recognizes individuality – this means that your therapies will not be identical to another patient’s! Your treatment plan may contain an integration of herbal medicine with Western and naturopathic medicine, psychotherapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, hormone therapies (i.e. thyroid hormone replacement), acupuncture for stress management, and other treatment options. 

To personalize your therapies, comprehensive testing services are offered. Functional laboratory testing provides us with invaluable insights into your gut health, hormonal imbalance, exposures to toxic metals, and more, helping us tailor dosages of IV nutrients, herbs, and other treatments. Note: Some of these lab tests we provide our patients are not offered by some conventional medicine practices. 

Our personalized medicine approach to treatment may open the doors to your optimal wellness. Keep in mind, functional medicine therapies are not designed to replace healthy living; this is why we offer ample education to patients. We help increase your awareness for chronic disease prevention, which can empower you to take appropriate actions for your long-term health.  

Herbal medicine can be considered for tackling chronic pain, anxiety, menopausal symptoms, and more! Experience personalized medicine today – simply fill in our contact form now to meet our Toronto area functional medicine practitioners. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

Afzaal, M., Saeed, F., Asghar, A., Shah, Y. A., Ikram, A., Ateeq, H., Hussain, M., Ofoedu, C. E., & Chacha, J. S. (2022). Nutritional and Therapeutic Potential of Soursop. Journal of Food Quality, 2022(1), 8828358. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/8828358

Alatas H, Sja’bani M, Mustofa M, Mukti AG, Bawazier LA, Irijanto F, Zulaela Z, Tomino Y. The effects of soursop supplementation on blood pressure, serum uric acid, and kidney function in a prehypertensive population in accordance with the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline. J Hum Hypertens. 2020 Mar;34(3):223-232. doi: 10.1038/s41371-019-0235-6. Epub 2019 Aug 28. PMID: 31462727.

Champy P, Melot A, Guérineau Eng V, Gleye C, Fall D, Höglinger GU, Ruberg M, Lannuzel A, Laprévote O, Laurens A, Hocquemiller R. Quantification of acetogenins in Annona muricata linked to atypical parkinsonism in guadeloupe. Mov Disord. 2005 Dec;20(12):1629-33. doi: 10.1002/mds.20632. PMID: 16078200.

Ishola, I. O., Awodele, O., Olusayero, A. M., & Ochieng, C. O. (2014). Mechanisms of Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Annona muricata Linn. (Annonaceae) Fruit Extract in Rodents. Journal of Medicinal Food, 17(12), 1375. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2013.0088

Mutakin M, Fauziati R, Fadhilah FN, Zuhrotun A, Amalia R, Hadisaputri YE. Pharmacological Activities of Soursop (Annona muricata Lin.). Molecules. 2022 Feb 10;27(4):1201. doi: 10.3390/molecules27041201. PMID: 35208993; PMCID: PMC8878098.

Olas B. The Antioxidant Potential of Graviola and Its Potential Medicinal Application. Nutrients. 2023 Jan 12;15(2):402. doi: 10.3390/nu15020402. PMID: 36678273; PMCID: PMC9865140.

Pai BM, Rajesh G, Shenoy R, Rao A. Anti-microbial Efficacy of Soursop Leaf Extract (Annona muricata) on Oral Pathogens: An In-vitro Study. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Nov;10(11):ZC01-ZC04. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2016/18329.8762. Epub 2016 Nov 1. PMID: 28050493; PMCID: PMC5198446.

Reshma K, Hena JV. Phytochemical Properties and Therapeutic Applications of Annona muricata: A Comprehensive Review. J Young Pharm. 2024;16(4):642-52.

Santos IL, Rodrigues AMDC, Amante ER, Silva LHMD. Soursop (Annona muricata) Properties and Perspectives for Integral Valorization. Foods. 2023 Mar 29;12(7):1448. doi: 10.3390/foods12071448. PMID: 37048268; PMCID: PMC10093693.

“Soursop (Graviola): Health Benefits and Uses” from Healthline, posted on June 13, 2023, viewed on April 14, 2025.