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Family Zingibereaceae
Cherimoya
Annona cherimola Mill.
CUSTARD APPLE
Mao ye fan li zhi

Scientific names Common names
Annona cherimola Mill. Cherimoya (Engl.)
  Chirimoya (Eng.)
  Chirimuya (Engl.)
  Chirimollla (Engl.)
  Custard apple (Engl.)
Annona cherimola Mill. is an accepted name. No synonyms are recorded. The Plant List

Other vernacular names
CHINESE: Mao ye fan li zhi.
FRENCH: Annone, Cachiman, Cachiman clur de bluf, Cherimole, Cherimolier, Corossol du Perou.
GERMAN: Chirimoya, Chirimoyabaum, Jamaikapfel, Peruansicher fraschenbaum, Rahmapfel, Zukerannone.
HINDI: Hanuman phal, Marytiphal.
ITALIAN: Cerimolia.
JAPANESE: Cherimoa, Cherimoya.
MEXICO: Pox, Poox.
PORTUGUESE: Anona de Chile, Chirimolia, Chirimorrinon, Chirimoya, Fruta do conde, Grabiola, Graveola, Graviola.
SPANISH: Anona poshte, Anon de manteca, Catuche, Cherimolla, Chirimoya, Corazon.
TELUGU: Hanuman phalamu.
OTHERS: Hanuman phala, Noina ostrelia.

Botany
Cherimoya is a small deciduous tree that grows to a height of 10 meters, low branched, shrubby, spreading 5 to 9 meters. Leaves are alternate, two-ranked, with minute hairy petioles, ovate to elliptic, short and pointed at the apex, slightly hairy at the upper surface, velvety on the lower surface. Flowers are fragrant and solitary, on short, hairy stalks along the branches, with 3 outer, greenish, fleshy, downy petals and 3 smaller, pinkish inner petals. Fruit is cone- or heart-shaped, 10 to 20 centimeters long, up to 10 centimeters wide, containing numerous hard, brown or black glossy seeds, 1 to 2 centimeters long.

- In Peru, cherimoyas are classified according to degree of surface irregularity: Lisa (almost smooth), impresa (with fingerprint depressions), umbonada (rounded protrusions), papilonado or tetilado (fleshy, nipple-like protrusions), tuberculada (conical protrusions with wartlike tips). (1)

Distribution
- Introduced.
- Cultivated for its edible fruit.
- It does well in the Mountain Province at an altitude above 2,460 feet.
- Native to southern Ecuador and northern Peru.

Constituents
- Plant yields alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates, proteins, phenolic compounds, phytosterols, and amino acids. (12)
- Nutrient analysis per 100 g of fruit (1 cup=160gm)
yields: (Principle) energy 75 Kcal, carbohydrates 17.71 g, protein 1.57 g, total fat 0.68 g, cholesterol 0 mg, dietary fiber 3 g; (Vitamins) folates 23 µg, niacin 0.644 mg, pantothenic acid 0.345 mg, pyridoxine 0.257 mg, riboflavin 0.131 mg, thiamin 0.101 mg, vitamin A 5 IU, vitamin C 12.6 mg, vitamin E 0.27 mg; (Electrolytes) sodium 7 mg, potassium 287 mg; (Minerals) calcium 10 mg, copper 0.069 mg, iron 0.27 mg, magnesium 17 mg, manganese 0.093 mg, phosphorus 26 mg, zinc 0.16 mg' (Phytonutrients) carotene-ß 2 µg, cryptoxanthin-ß 1 µg, lutein-zeaxanthin 6 µg. (7)
- Studies on stems and seeds have yielded various chemical constituents including annocherine A and B, cherianoine, aromin-A, N-cis-caffeoyltyramine, dihydro-feruloyltyramine, N-transferuloylmethoxytyramine, and N-cis-feruloyltylmethoxytyramine. (12)
- Bioassay-guided fractionation of ethanol extract of leaves yielded five phenolic compounds: caffeic acid, quercetin, kaempferol, nicotinflorin, and rutin. (see study below) (3)
- Yields numerous bioactive chemicals i.e., annonaceous acetogenins, annocherine A, cherianoine, annocherine B, chermolin, annomolin, romucosine H, anonaine, among others.
- GC-MS analysis of essential oils of fresh leaves, flowers, and fruits obtained by steam distillation yielded 60 constituents. Main constituents in the oil of leaves were bicyclogermacrene, trans-caryophyllene and δ-amorphene; flowers yield main constituents of bicyclogermacrene, α-terpinolene and germacrene D, and oil of fruits yielded main constituents of β-pinene, α-terpinolene, β-fenchyl alcohol and α-pinene. (see study below) (10)
- GC-MS analysis of bark for essential oil major compounds of methyl butanoate (69.08%), butyl butanoate (56.56%), 3-methylbutyl betanoate (15.36%), 3-methyl-butyl 3-methyl butanoate (56.69%) and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (71.82%). (12)
- Bioassay-guided fractionation of ethanol extract of leaves yielded five phenolic compounds: caffeic acid, quercetin, kaempferol, nicotinflorin, and rutin. (see study below) (3)
- Study of stems yielded 35 compounds including twenty‐one alkaloids: lysicamine (1), liriodenine (2), atherospermidine (3), oxoxylopine (4), oxoanolobine (5), oxoglaucine (6), (‐)‐anonaine (7), (‐)‐asimilobine (8), (‐)‐xylopine (9), (‐)‐anolobine (10), (‐)‐norisocorydine (11), (+)‐laurotetanine (12), (+)‐isocorydine (13), (‐)‐N‐methylasimilobine (14), (+)‐N‐methyllaurotetanine (15), (‐)‐norushinsunine (16), (‐)‐ushinsunine (17), (‐)‐N‐formylanonaine (18), (+)‐stepharine (19), (+)‐orentaline (20), and (‐)‐kikemanine (21); four kauranes, ent‐kaur‐16‐en‐19‐oic acid (22), 16β‐hydroxy‐17‐acetoxy‐ent‐kauran‐19‐al (23), 17‐acetoxy‐16β‐ent‐kauran‐19‐oic acid (24), and 16β‐hydroxy‐17‐acetoxy‐ent‐kauran‐19‐oic acid (25); two amides, N‐trans‐femloyltyramine (26), and N‐trans‐caffeoyltyramine (27); one purine, adenosine (28); one lactam amide, squamolone (29); and six steroids, β‐sitosterol (30), stigmasterol (31), β‐sitostenone (32), stigmasta‐4,22‐dien‐3‐one (33), 6β‐hydroxy‐β‐sitosterone (34), and 6β‐hydroxystigmasterone (35) . (20)

Properties
- Studies have suggested antioxidant, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, antiprotozoal properties.

Toxicity
- Seeds, like all Annona species, are toxic and should be removed from the pulp before blending.
- Blindness can result from the juice of crushed seeds coming in contact with the eyes. (6)
- Seeds and twigs contain several alkaloids including (+)-reticuline, (-)-anonaine, liriodenine, and lanuginosine. (6)
- Ingestion of 0.15g of seed resin can cause symptoms resembling atropine effects. (6)
- Seeds are an important source of acetogenins, a type of alkaloid with antiparasitic and cytotoxic activities. (7)

Parts used
Seeds, rind.

Uses

Edibility
- Essentially a desert fruit that is eaten fresh.
- Fruit is juicy, slight sweet, and a little tart, with a delicious flavor cross between a pineapple and banana. Added to fruit salads and various dessert recipes. Pulp may be blended with orange juice and lime juice.
- Used for making ice cream, milkshakes or sorbets. (12)
- Immature fruits used in vegetable curries. (12)
- Caution: seed is toxic. (see toxicity above)
Folkloric
- In Mexican traditional medicine, used for treatment of diarrhea and dysentery.
- Powdered seed mixed with grease as treatment for parasitic skin diseases.
- Seeds are toasted, peeled, and pulverized to a powder, taken with water or milk as potent emetic or cathartic. Decoction of rind taken to treat pneumonia. (6)
- Fruit used for digestive disorders such as stomachache and ulcers. Bark decoction used a tonic and as remedy for diarrhea. Root chewed to relieve toothaches. Root decoction drunk to treat fevers. Leaf decoction used to treat worms. (12)
Others
- Insecticide: Crushed seed used as insecticide. (6)
Crushed seeds used to kill lice and cure parasitic skin conditions. (12)
- Snuff flavoring: In Jamaica, dried flowers used as flavoring for snuff. (12)

Studies
Antiprotozoal / Kaempferol / Leaves:
Bioassay-guided fractionation of ethanol extract of leaves yielded five phenolic compounds: caffeic acid, quercetin, kaempferol, nicotinflorin, and rutin. In vitro antiprotozoal assay showed kaempferol was the most potent antiamoebic and antigiardial compound with IC50 values of 7.9 µg/ml for Entamoeba histolytica and 8.7 µg/ml for Giardia lamblia. (3)
• Antioxidant and Hypolipidemic Effects / Leaves: Study evaluated the antioxidant effect of oral administration of methanol extract of Annona cherimola leaf on antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in blood-Triton WR 1339 induced rat. Results showed improvement of antioxidant enzymes associated with an increase in body weight control and healthier lipid profiles suggesting antiobesity and hypolipidemic effects. (4)
• Alkaloids / Annona cherimola x Annona squamosa / Leaves: Atemoya is an interspecific annonaceous hybrid between A. cherimola Mill. and A. squamosa L. Phytochemical screening yielded seven alkaloids, including two aporphine (annonaine and asimilobine), three oxoaporphine (lanuginosine, liriodenine, and lysicamine) and two proaporphine (pronuciferine and stepharine). The species is an important source of aporphine alkaloids with a high relationship with other Annona species. (8)
• Cytotoxic Cyclic Heptapeptide / Seeds: Methanol extract of seeds yielded a new cyclic heptapeptide, cherimolacyclopeptide C. It exhibited significant in vitro cytotoxic activity against KB cells, with an IC50 value of 0.072 µM. (9)
• Antimicrobial / Essential Oil: GC-MS analysis of essential oils of fresh leaves, flowers, and fruits obtained by steam distillation yielded 60 constituents. Study reported In vitro antimicrobial activity of three essential oils and some of their major constituents against five gram (±) bacteria and one fungus. (see constituents above) (10)
• Antihyperglycemic / Rutin / Leaves: Study evaluated an ethanol extract of A. cherimola, subsequent fractions, and rutin on alloxan-induced type 2 diabetic rats. Bioactive-guided fractionation of EEAc yielded a major antihyperglycemic compound, rutin. EEAc attenuated postprandial hyperglycemia. Results suggest rutin as an a-glucosidase inhibitor was responsible in part for the antihyperglycemic activity of A. cherimola. (11)
• Antioxidant / Fruits: Study evaluated the antioxidant activity of pulp, peel, and seeds for four cultivars from A. cherimola from the Madeira Island. The peel showed highest antioxidant activity with EC50 of 0.97 mg/ml. and total flavonoids (44.7 epicatechin equivalents/100g). Lutein was the most abundant carotenoid, ranging from 129 to 232 µg/100g. Peel yielded highest l-ascorbic acid (4.41 mg/100g). (14)
• Antioxidant / Cytoprotective / Fruits: Study evaluated organic solvents of the pulp of ripe fruits for antioxidant, total phenols, and cytoprotective activity. The organic extracts showed potent antioxidant and ferric reducing power activities. A dimethyl formammide extract showed highest scavenging activity using DPPH, ABTS, O2-radical and FRAP assays, while an ethanol extract showed highest activity against lipid peroxidation. All extracts significantly enhanced cell survival of isolated human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Results showed strong antioxidant properties, remarkable decrease of lipid peroxidation, and cytoprotective effects against strong oxidant. (15)
• Radical Scavenging / Modulatory Effect on Complications in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats: Study evaluated the modulatory effect of A. cherimola against complications and oxidative stress in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. In vitro a-inhibition assay showed 26-57% inhibition. A. cherimola extract showed significant activity by regulating release of insulin (46-159%), C-peptide (61-72%), maintaining levels of GHb (1-28%) and atherogenic index. Liver, renal, and chemical markers reverted back to near normal. Enzymatic antioxidant (SOD and CAT) levels showed improvement in radical scavenging potential. (16)
• Antihyperglycemic / Rutin / Leaves: Cherimoya has been reported in Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes. Study evaluated ethanol extract, fractions, and rutin from Annona cherimola in alloxan-induced type 2 diabetic rats. Bioassay-guided fractionation yielded a major antihyperglycemic compound, rutin. Rutin attenuated postprandial hyperglycemia in an acute assay. In a subchronic assay, the ethanol extract and rutin showed blood glucose reduction comparable to acarbose. Results suggest rutin as a-glucosidase inhibitor was responsible in part for the antihyperglycemic acidity of A. cherimola. (17)
• Antinociceptive / Anti-Inflammatory / Atemoya: Atemoya is an interspecific hybrid between Annona cherimola Mill. and Annona squamosa L. Study of an ethanol extract of atemoya showed relief of pain and inflammation in experimental models in rats. Acetic acid induced writhing, formalin and hot plate tests were used for antinociceptive evaluation and carrageenan-induced peritonitis for anti-inflammatory testing. (18)
• Antihyperlipidemic: Study evaluated a methanolic extract of Annona cherimola for antihyperlipidemic potential in a model of acute hyperlipidemia induced by a single administration of Triton WR 1339 intra-peritoneally in rats. Results showed significant dose dependent decrease in plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol along with a considerable increase in HDL cholesterol. Fenofibrate was used as reference standard. (19)

Availability
- Cultivated.
- Seeds in the cybermarket.


Updated April 2019
October 2017


Photos © Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: / Annona cherimola fruit / File:Starr 070308-5404 Annona cherimola.jpg / Forest & Kim Starr / 8 March 2007 / Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license / click on photo to go to source page / Wikimedia Commons

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Cherimoya: Annona cherimola - Fruits in warm climates /
Morton J. 1987. p 65-69 / hort.purdue.edu
(2)
Sorting Annona names / /Maintained by: Michel H. Porcher / MULTILINGUAL MULTISCRIPT PLANT NAME DATABASE / Copyright © 1995 - 2020 / A Work in Progress. School of Agriculture and Food Systems. Faculty of Land & Food Resources. The University of Melbourne. Australia.
(3)
Antiprotozoal Constituents from Annona cherimola Miller, a Plant Used in Mexican Traditional Medicine for the Treatment of Diarrhea and Dysentery. / Calzada F, Correa-Basurto J, Barbosa E, Mendez-Luna D, Yepez-Mulia L / Pharmacogn Mag., 2017 Jan-Mar; 13(49): pp 48-152. / doi: 10.4103/0973-1296.197636.
(4)
Biochemical studies on the effect of medicinal plant Annona Cherimola species in cholesterol induced rats / K.S.Chandana, Chakrapani.P, Venkatesh.K, Amareshwari.P, Prem Kumar, Saraswathi and Anupalli Roja Rani / 2nd World Congress on Bioavailability & Bioequivalence: Pharmaceutical R & D Summit-2011 and International Conference on Pharmaceutics & Novel Drug Delivery Systems / Pharmaceutica Analytica Acta / DOI: 10.4172/2153-2435.10000S5
(5)
Annona cherimola Mill. (Custard apple): a review on its plant profile, nutritional values, traditional claims and ethnomedicinal properties / Prasad Jamkhande, Balaji R Ajgunde, Dhanraj R Jadge /
Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine, July 2017 / DOI: 10.1007/s13596-017-0263-0
(6)
Annona cherimola Mill. / Plants For A Future
(7)
Cherimoya fruit nutrition facts / NutritionAndYou
(8)
Alkaloids isolated from the leaves of atemoya (Annona cherimola × Annona squamosa) / Suzana V Rabelo, Jackson R G da Silva Almeida et al / Rev. bras. farmacogn., July-August 2015; Vol 25, No 4,  Curitiba  / http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjp.2015.07.006
(9)
A Cytotoxic Cyclic Heptapeptide from the Seeds of Annona cherimola / Alassane Wele, Yanjun Zhang, Idrissa Ndove, Jean-Paul Brouard, Jean-Louis Pousset, and Bernard Bodo / J. Nat. Prod., 2004, 67 (9), pp 1577–1579 / DOI10.1021/np040068i
(10)
Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils from Annona cherimola(Annonaceae) / María Yolanda Ríos*, Federico Castrejón, Norma Robledo, Ismael León, Gabriela Rojas, and Víctor Navarro / Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx, Vol 47, No 2,  Apr-Jun 2003
(11)
Antihyperglycemic Activity of the Leaves from Annona cherimola Miller and Rutin on Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats. / Calzada F, Solares-Pascasio JI, Ordoñez-Razo RM, Velazquez C, Barbosa E, García-Hernández N, Mendez-Luna D, Correa-Basurto J. / Pharmacognosy Res., 2017 Jan-Mar; 9(1): pp 1-6. / doi: 10.4103/0974-8490.199781.
(12)
Phytochemical and Pharmacological potential of Annona cherimola--A Review / Arun Jyothi B, Venkatesh K, Chakrapani P and A Roja Rani / International Journal of Phytomedicine, Jan 2011; 3(4): pp 439-447 / http://www.arjournals.org/index.php/ijpm/index
(13)
Annona cherimola / Synonyms / The Plant List
(14)
Nutritional and phytochemical composition of Annona cherimola Mill. fruits and by-products: Potential health benefits. / Albuquerque T G, Santos F, Sanches-Silva A, Beatriz Oliveira M, Bento A C, Costa H S / Food Chem., Feb 2106; 193: pp 187-195
(15)
Evaluation of the antioxidant and cytoprotective properties of the exotic fruit Annona cherimola Mill. (Annonaceae) / Barreca, Davide; Lagana, Giuseppina; Ficarra, Silvana et al / Food Research International, 2011; 44(7): pp 2302-2310
(16)
In Vitro Radical Scavenging Activity and Modulating Effect of Annona Cherimola on Complications Associated With Diabetes in Experimental Diabetic Rats-An Approach to Evaluate Asymmetrical Temperature Distribution Analysis Using Thermography / Syed Zameer Ahmed Khader, Sidhra Syed Zameer Ahmed, Nithiya Priya B Thirunavukkarasu, Krishnaveni Radhakrishnan, Muniraj Chinnusamy, Venkatesan Thangavel, Kisore P Venkatesh, Karamchand Ravi, Rajadurai S Ramachandran, Moogambigai S Muthukumar / Intervention in Diabetes, 1(5) / DOI: 10.31031/IOD.2018.01.000522
(17)
Antihyperglycemic activity of the leaves from Annona cherimola miller and rutin on alloxan-induced diabetic rats / Fernando Calzada, Jesus Ivan Solares-Pascasio, RM Ordoñez-Razo, Claudia Velazquez et al / Pharmacognosy Research, 2017; 9(1): pp 1-6 / DOI: 10.4103/0974-8490.199781
(18)
Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanolic extract from atemoya (Annona cherimola Mill x Annona squamosa L.) / Hallison do Nascimento Silva, Suzana Vieira Rabelo, Tamara Coimbra Diniz et al / African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, May 2017; 11(18): pp 224-232 / https://doi.org/10.5897/AJPP2017.4778
(19)
Pharmacological Screening of Annona cherimola for Antihyperlipidemic Potential / Adarsh Verma, Ajay Kumar, Raja Shekar K, Kranthi Kumar A, Chakrapani and Roja Rani A / Journal of Basic and Clinical Pharmacy
(20)
The Constituents from the Stems of Annona cherimola / Chung-Yi Chen, Fang-Rong Chang, Yang-Chang Wu / Journal of the Chinese Medical Society, June 1997; 44(3): pp 313-319

It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page.

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