Botanical atlas

Soursop

Annona muricata

Soursop has been treasured across the tropics for centuries, its spiny green fruit prized for a pulp that tastes like a blend of pineapple, banana, and strawberry. In folk traditions from the Caribbean to Southeast Asia, nearly every part of the tree, the leaves, bark, roots, and seeds, found its way into home remedies for everything from fevers to aches to digestive upset. The fruit itself became a beloved staple, blended into juices, ice creams, and sweets throughout Latin America, the Philippines, and West Africa. In more recent decades, soursop leaf and extract have been widely marketed for serious health claims, which has drawn scientific attention, and that attention has raised real concerns rather than confirming the folklore.

Safety.

Soursop's leaves, seeds, bark, and roots contain annonacin, which studies have linked to atypical parkinsonism and other neurological harm with regular use in teas or extracts, so these parts should not be used as home remedies. The ripe fruit itself is widely and safely eaten in ordinary amounts, but the seeds are toxic if crushed or chewed and should never be eaten.