The efficacy and function of sugar apple leaves

As a traditional Chinese medicine, sugar apple leaves have great medicinal value and can treat many diseases. Let’s take a closer look at it below.

[Source] Medicinal material source: The leaves of Annona custardii, a plant of the Annonaceae family.

[Original form] Deciduous small tree, 3-5m high. Many branches, thin bark, grayish white. Leaves are alternate, arranged in two rows, elliptic-lanceolate or oblong, 6-17cm long, 2-7cm wide, acute or obtuse at apex, broadly cuneate or rounded at base, pale green beneath. Flowers are solitary or 2-4 clusters are grown at the top of branches or opposite leaves, about 2 cm long, green-yellow, and drooping; sepals are 3, triangular, and hairy; petals are 6, in 2 whorls, the outer petals are narrow and thick, fleshy, and oblong, and the inner petals are scaly; stamens are numerous and densely grown; carpels are numerous, oblong, and glabrous, each with 1 ovule. The fruit is composed of many easily separable carpels connected together to form an aggregate berry. It is spherical or heart-shaped cone, 5-10 cm in diameter, yellow-green in color, and covered with white powdery frost. The flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from June to November.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: It is now cultivated in tropical regions around the world.

[Chemical composition] The ethanol extract of the stems and leaves contains corydine, an effective anti-cancer ingredient; it also contains norcorydine, isocorydine, norisocorydine, anonaine, roemerine, glaucine, norlaureline and their derivatives; it also contains 4-(2-nitroethyl) phenol-1-primeveroside. The leaves contain alkaloids such as xylopine, dextrorotatory O-methylarmepavin, lanuginosine, and higenamine (demethylcoclaurine); flavonoids such as rutin, hyperin, and quercetin; friedelin, β-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, n-triacontanol, n-octacosanol, n-hexacosanol, and 16-hentriacontanone. The stem bark contains bullatacin and bullatacinone.

【Pharmacological Action】 Bratacinone has a selective cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Bratacin has strong insecticidal activity, which is effective at a concentration of only 1×10(-6), but bratacinone has no such activity.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; astringent; slightly cold

【Meridian】 Large Intestine; Heart Meridian

【Functions and indications】Astringent and astringent to the intestines; clearing away heat and detoxifying. Mainly used for dysentery, rectal prolapse in children, and painful and swollen ulcers

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 5-10g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the above, we have learned about the effects and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine sugar apple leaves. I hope everyone can prescribe the right medicine and eat sugar apple leaves correctly in life.