ANNONA SQUAMOSA

Plant Name: Annona squamosa

English Name: Sugar apple

Local Name:

• Ata, Luna, Meba,


• Bolivia,


• Costa Rica, CubaCustard apple,


• Sharifa, Sarifa, Sitaphal, Sita pandu, Scaly custard apple anon

Family: Annonaceae

Uses:
In India the crushed leaves are sniffed to overcome hysteria and fainting spells; they are also applied on ulcers and wounds and a leaf decoction is taken in cases of dysentery. Throughout tropical America, a decoction of the leaves alone or with those of other plants is imbibed either as an emmenagogue, febrifuge, tonic, cold remedy, digestive, or to clarify the urine. The leaf decoction is also employed in baths to alleviate rheumatic pain. The green fruit, very astringent, is employed against diarrhea in El Salvador. In India, the crushed ripe fruit, mixed with salt, is applied on tumors. The bark and roots are both highly astringent. The bark decoction is given as a tonic and to halt diarrhea. The root, because of its strong purgative action, is administered as a drastic treatment for dysentery and other ailments.
The seeds are acrid and poisonous. Bark, leaves and seeds contain the alkaloid, anonaine. Powdered seeds, also pounded dried fruits serve as fish poison and insecticides in India. A paste of the seed powder has been applied to the head to kill lice but must be kept away from the eyes as it is highly irritant and can cause blindness.