Soursop (Annona muricata) Nutritional Composition, Bioactivities and its Potential Applications: A Review

This article represented a review on soursop (Annona muricata), an edible fruit of the Annona in the custard apple tree family with emphasis on its skin (exocarp), pulp and seed. Likewise, extraction methods used to obtain active compounds from the skin (exocarp), pulp and seed as well as investigations on the bioactivities such as antioxidant, antidiabetic with some in vivo and in vitro studies were also enumerated. Current use in different food products as antioxidants, and as technofunctional ingredients was also elucidated. Since it is known that the development of alternative nutritive ingredients from under-utilized or less commercialized fruits is emerging. This necessitated the need to review the beneficial importance of soursop (skin, pulp and seed). The promising prospect of soursop is that juice obtained from its pulp pressing can be used in candies, flavouring, fruit bars, smoothies etc. Bioactive compound such as annonacin that is present in the seed may be used in cancer treatment.