TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page-   –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         i

Certification-          –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         ii

Dedication-  –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         iii

Acknowledgements-        –         –         –         –         –         –         –         iv

Table of Contents- –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         v-vi

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction- –         –         –         –         –         –         –         1-3

CHAPTER TWO

2.0     Botanical Description of Annona muricata–  –         –         –         4-5

2.1     Uses of Annona muricata leaf and seed in

traditional medicine-        –         –         –         –         –         –         5-6

2.2     Antimicrobial phytochemicals in Annona muricata–          –         6

2.2.1  Phenolics-    –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         6-7

2.2.2  Quinones-    –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         8-9

2.2.3  Flavonoids- –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         9-10

2.2.4  Tannins-      –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         10-11

2.2.5  Terpenoids- –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         11-12

2.2.6  Alkaloids-    –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         13

2.3     Mechanism of Action of Bacterial Agents-    –         –         –         14-16

2.4     Mechanism of Resistance of Antibacterial Agents- –         –         16-20

2.5     Historic Use of Plants as Antimicrobials-      –         –         –         20-21

CHAPTER THREE: ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF Annona muricata

3.1     Antimicrobial Properties of Annona muricata–        –         –         22

3.1.1  Anti-Protozoal Activity-  –         –         –         –         –         –         22-23

3.1.2  Antibacterial and Antiviral Activity-   –         –         –         –         23-24

3.1.3  Anticancer Activity-        –         –         –         –         –         –         24-25

3.2     Toxicology of Annona muricata–         –         –         –         –         25-26

CHAPTER FOUR: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

4.1     Summary-    –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         27

4.1     Conclusion- –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         28

References

CHAPTER ONE

1.0     Introduction

Annona muricata is a lowland tropical fruit bearing free in the Annonaceae family. It is commonly known as soursop or Graviola. Annona muricata is a large sping green tropical fruit with sweet and white pulp. It is widely distributed in India and Central America. The edible fruit leaves, seeds, and roots are know to have medicinal property. The fruit of Annona muricata Linn. is found to be edible in Yunnan province of China and their fruits is used commercially for the production of juice, candy and sherbets. The soursop major possesses a maximum of 144 volatile compounds is found to be responsible for the whole aroma profile, 44 esters, 25 terpenes, 10 alcohols, 9 aldeydes and ketone, 7 aromatic compounds, 5 hydrocarbons, 3 acid, 3 lactone and 8 other miscellianeus compound (Gajakakshmi et al., 2012).

In laboratory studies, Annona selectively hunts down and kills 12 different types of cancer cells, including breast, prostrates, lung, colon and pancreatic cancer (Rojas et al., 2003).

Annona muricata produces natural compound in its leaf, stem, bark, fruit and seed, three separate research have continued that these chemicals have significant antitumorous properties and selective toxicity against various types of cancer cell (without harming healthy cell). Over twenty laboratory studies, kept have show this tree 10,000 time more powerful than Adrianycin, a commonly used chemotherapy (Benjamine and Stone, 2003).

The common use of the species, with is deficient in scientific research and requires more studies to explore the medicinal potential of the plant. The leaves, rots and seeds of Annona muricata demonstrated insecticidal properties, with these seed demonstrated strong insecticidal activity (Edeoga et al., 2000). The phytochemical present in Annona muricata are alkaloid, flavonoids, carbohydrate, cardiacglycosides, saponins, tannins, phytosterol, terpenoids, and protein (Edeoga et al., 2000).

Annona muricata acts as ideal antidiabetic drug. Since it posses both hypoglycemic and antioxidant properties without any adverse effect (Edeoga et al., 2000). The leaves of Annona muricata act as mollucidal and antiparasitical agent (Bieber et al., 2005). Annona muricata can be used to cure inflammatory condition like flu and cough. People in the older days used to mix Annona muricata tree extract from the roots, leaves and stem to make tea and other solution which was given to people suffering from various illness. Annona muricata extract solution was applied on the body to treat rheumatism arthritis and any other pain in joints (Padma et al., 2001).

Annona muricata oils can be extracted from leaves. The leaves can be crushed along with raw fruit from the plant and mixed with olive oil. The oil can be used to treat various skin disorder like rashes, boil and sores (Padma et al., 2001).