ANNONACEAE

The Annonaceae or custard-apple family comprises some 2000+ tropical and subtropical trees, shrubs, or woody climbers. They usually have alternate leaves, fragrant bark, flowers with three petals, and fruit called an etaerio, which are formed via merger of individual ovaries within a single flower. In analogy, a custard apple is much like a giant raspberry. Although various Annonaceae species like the soursop and custard-apple are valued as ornamental fruits and/or traditional medicine, they contain polyketide neurotoxins called acetogenins, which are associated with Parkinson-like diseases. This usually follows long term ingestion of Annonaceae fruits or leaves like those of the soursop (Annona muricata) in large quantities over a long period of several years. There is currently no known treatment or antidote to acetogenins induced Parkinsonism, patients irreversibly lose their ability to coordinate bodily movements. 

 

Soursop or Graviola (Annona muricata)