Sweetsop

Overview

Sweetsop is now widely cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical regions as a fruit plant. However, the species is originated in the Caribbean, Central America & Northeastern South America. Besides of it fruit properties, the plant is traditionally used as medicine for various illnesses. 

Vernacular Names

Srikaya (Indonesia), custard apple, sugar apple, sweet apres (English), and sitaphal (India).

Agroecology

Sweetsop thrives on many soil types with good drainage. The plant may grow from sea level to 1,000 m in altitude. The plant is growing well in relatively stable conditions with a temperature range of 10-20 to 22-28 degrees Celcius.

Morphology

• Stem - evergreen, irregular crown, bark gray and thin.
• Leaves - oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, alternate.
• Flowers - yellowish-green, fragrant, fleshy, extra-axillary, hanging down, single or in a group.
• Fruits - round, heart-shaped, ovate or conical, with many round protuberances,  sweet and juicy flesh occurs in elongated segments.
• Seeds - black or brown, oblong, smooth, and shiny.

Cultivation

Commonly propagated through seed. Vegetative propagation by grafting or budding is also possible. 

Chemical Constituents

Diterpenes, alkaloids, annonaceous acetogenins, cyclic peptides, and essential oil.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• In the Ayurveda system, the sweetsop fruit is used as a tonic, alleviating vomit and stomach complaints.
• In Yunani medical system sweetsop fruit is used to remove hair lice.
• In the Cuban medicine system, sweetsop leaves are consumed to lower uric acid levels while the unripe fruit is used to cure diarrhea and dysentery.
• In Southern China, the seed extract is believed to be able to cure cancer. Like many other Annona species, the sweetsop plant part, including its bark is believed to be able to cure cancer. 
• The leaves are also used to treat boils, ulcers, and prolapse in children.
• A poultice of sweetsop with salt is traditionally used to treat Guinea worm disease.