Annona Squamosa: Natural Remedy for Pain & Arthritis

In Brazil, researchers discovered compounds having analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperalgesic (against chronic pain), and anti-arthritic properties in the leaves of Annona squamosa, often known as fruta-do-conde or pinha. The findings of the study, funded by FAPESP through five projects (09/05992-6, 14/17436-9, 15/03726-8, 16/06407-3, and 21/09693-5), were published in the journal Pharmaceuticals.

Scientists from UFGD, UFMS, UNICAMP, and UNESP collaborated on this study. The scientists tested the plant’s methanolic extract (methanol is used as a solvent and then evaporated to produce a dry extract) and an isolated component called palmatine.

According to the authors, Annona squamosa is already used medicinally in various nations, as well as in folk medicine to alleviate pain and arthritis. Several pharmacological characteristics have been reported, including gastroprotective, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. It may be a viable alternative to the most common pharmacological pain therapies, opioid analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, which can cause addiction, ulceration, and cardiovascular thrombotic events if used for an extended period of time. It can also be used as an alternative to the main anti-inflammatory medicines, such as glucocorticoid analogs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which, when used for an extended period of time, can cause adrenal insufficiency and insulin resistance, among other issues.

In view of this, the aim of the study was to investigate the analgesic, anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory potential of the methanolic extract and palmatine obtained from Annona squamosa.”

Marcos José Salvador, full professor at the Department of Plant Biology at UNICAMP and co-author of the research

To do this, the plant’s leaves were dried and ground into powder. Substances to be evaluated were then removed. The methanolic extract and the alkaloid palmatine were administered orally to mice and studied in several experimental models, including pleurisy (inflammation of the pleura, the membranes that line the lungs and chest wall) induced by a substance called carrageenan; joint inflammation induced by zymosan; and mechanical hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to painful stimuli) induced by TNF.

“The results showed that the methanolic extract and palmatine extracted from A. squamosa have analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential. Palmatine also has anti-hyperalgesic properties, which may involve inhibition of the tumor necrosis factor-mediated pathway,” explains Salvador. “We also concluded that palmatine may be one of the components responsible for the anti-arthritic properties of the plant.”