[Self medication with Annona muricata L. (corossol) as an anti-cancer agent in Reunion]

Abstract

Introduction: Annona muricata L. also called soursop, graviola, guanabana and sapoty (French creole) is a fruit tree growing in tropical countries. The fruits, seeds, leaves and roots are used in traditional medicine. Potential anticancer effects encourage patients to consume this product as self medication. The object of the study was to determine the prevalence of use of graviola as an anticancer agent by patients treated for a lung cancer.

Methods: Our survey took place in two thoracic oncology day cares units of the university hospital of Reunion. All the patients treated by chemotherapy and immunotherapy for lung cancer were asked the same questions in a face to face interview over a 6-month period.

Results: One hundred questionnaires were collected. Sixty seven patients consumed graviola. In 53.7%, graviola was consumed as an anticancer agent and 25 patients took it regularly. Most often graviola was ingested as an infusion of boiled leaves (69.5%). The supply was exclusively local.

Conclusions: A quarter of patients treated by chemotherapy for a lung cancer in Reunion consume graviola regularly as self medication. The consequences of this intake, drug interactions and side effects are unknown and would be interesting to identify.

Keywords: Annona muricata L.; Cancer bronchopulmonaire; Cancérologie; Complementary and alternative medicine; Lung cancer; Medicinal herbs; Médecine complémentaire et alternative; Oncology; Plantes médicinales.