Seed Waste from Custard Apple (Annona squamosa L.): A Comprehensive Insight on Bioactive Compounds, Health Promoting Activity and Safety Profile

Abstract

Annona squamosa L. (custard apple or sugar apple), belonging to the Annonaceae family, is a small tree or shrub that grows natively in subtropical and tropical regions. Seeds of the custard apple have been employed in folk medicines because of the presence of bioactive chemicals/compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds and acetogenins and cyclopeptides that are responsible for various biological activities. The seeds also show the presence of tannins, vitamin C, vitamin E and a higher content of amino acids. From investigations, it has been shown that the seeds of A. squamosa have considerable potential to be used as an antibacterial, hepatoprotective, antioxidant and antitumor/anticancer agent. Cyclosquamosin B, extracted from the custard apple seed, possesses vasorelaxant properties. Tocopherols and fatty acids, notably oleic acid and linoleic acid, are also found in the seed oil. A. squamosa seeds contain a high amount of annonaceous acetogenins compounds, which are potent mitochondrial complex I inhibitors and have high cytotoxicity. A survey primarily based on the nutritional, phytochemical and biological properties showed that A. squamosa seeds can be used for the discovery of novel products, including pharmaceutical drugs. Although there are sufficient in vitro and in vivo experimental investigations supporting the benefits of seeds, clinical investigations/trials are still needed to determine the health contributing benefits of A. squamosa seeds.

Phytochemical analysis of Annona atemoya seed extract by HPLC and their ability to inhibit the growth of Agrobacterium tumefaciens

“…The antimicrobial properties often are attributed to the hydroxyl group present within the chemical structure of the phenolic secondary metabolites found in various types of fruit like the custard apple (A. squamosa) (Al Mamari 2021), this is due to the high affinity of phenolic hydroxyl groups to bind to proteins and thus inhibit the action of microbial enzymes as well as increase the affinity with cytoplasmic membranes, thus enhancing antibacterial activity (Miklasińska-Majdanik et al 2018). Kumari et al (2022) noted that the seed extract of A. squamosa has an antimicrobial effect on human pathogens and has a promising future in the development of its use as a medical plant in the treatment of pathological conditions caused by various types of pathogenic bacteria.…”