Originally from Antilhas, it was brought to Brazil by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century.
Plant of tropical and subtropical climates, it is produced from Central America all the way to the southern tip of Brazil.
Perennial tree in pyramid form that can reach 8 meters in height.  It congregates 600 species, 4 of those being edible: Annona, Rollinia, Uvária e Asimina.

The production of this fruit takes place mainly in the north of Brazil. Its reprodction is obtained from healthy plants and fruits.  Its germination is fast and abundant. It requires fertile soil that is sandy and clayish, well drained and deep, with PH between 5,5 and 6,5.

Production is begun around 2 to 3 years after the seed is planted.
 4 months after blooming, the fruit starts to mature and its production goes from August to March, depending on what area of the country.
Produces fruits that can be 15-25 centimeters in length and up to 20 centimeters in diameter, with weight varying from 500 grams to 1 kg. It has a sweet and pleasing taste, able to be consumed in its natural form or as juice, jams, cakes and ice cream.  

 NUTRICIONAL AND MEDICAL USES
 
The population of South and Central America have been using graviola for centuries in the fight against many diseases such as: pellagra, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, spasms, cough, asthma, asthenia and hypertension.
In more recent researches done in the United States by more than 20 laboratories and by the doctor and researcher Dr. Leslie Taylor, it has been proved that graviola contains ant-carcinogen substances with potentiality 10,000 times more than adriamycin, a drug used in chemotherapy. These researches have also verified that these substances are selective, fighting only cancer cells and preserving healthy cells, without the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy.
For 7 years in the United States, it’s been attempted (without success) to synthesize these substances, with the failed goal of obtaining a patent, since they are not granted over natural substances.

“”Researchers in the USA and other countries have discovered that graviola destroys several types of cancer. Inside a test tube, graviola kills cancer cells 10,000 times faster than the best medicine used in hospitals, but up this day, pharmaceutical laboratories have not been able to make it in the form of medicine, therefore it is only used in its natural form. “”
Globo Repórter, report by Jorge Pontual.

Sources:
-Native and Exotic Plants of Brazil - by Harri Lorenzi & J.F. Abreu Matos – Instituto Plantarum – www.plantarum.com.br
-Revista Plantas e Ervas – ano 1 – n. 2 – Editora Minuano.
-Purdue University
-Taylor, L. 1.998, Herbal Secrets of the Rainforest.
-Base Ethnobotany de dados.
-Base Phytochemical de dados.
-Daniela Sicci Del Lama – Famaceutic/2002
-www.belezainteligente.com.br

 PRODUTCS AVAILABLE