The Annona cherimola is a South American fruit commonly used by local population as an anti-carcinogenic natural remedy. While other species of the same family have anti-carcinogenic properties, this particular species lacks much analysis of its anti-cancer characteristics. This study aims to extract the organic compounds from different parts of the plant to analyze their compositions, identify the anti-carcinogenic compounds, and test its effects on the viability of HeLa cells. It is believed that due to its poisonous nature, the seeds contain the highest concentration of anti-carcinogenic compounds and have the most potent effects on the decrease in viability of the cancer cells. The plant is extracted via Soxhlet extraction—using 150mL of ethyl acetate and 10g of the plant—and refluxed for four hours. The extract is rotary evaporated, re-suspended in 10mL acetonitrile, filtered, and distributed into 1mL samples. The samples are then speed vacuumed to dryness and re-suspended in 1mL of DMSO. One sample passes through the GC-MS to analyze the compounds collected in each extraction while the others are used for a series of viability assays (MTT) to test the effects on HeLa cells. Upon initial analysis, it is confirmed that the Annona cherimola contains compounds that significantly decrease the viability of cancer cells. Future studies will aim to compare anti-carcinogenic properties of the plant to other known anti-carcinogenic natural products, as well as isolate the compounds that play a role in the decrease of cancer viability.

From folklore to reality: A biochemical study of the anti-carcinogenic properties of the Annona cherimola

255th National Meeting (2018)

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