1*Research Scholar, Faculty of Pharmacy, Maulana Azad University, Bujhawar, Luni, Jodhpur, Rajasthan-342001, India
Email: brijeshkumarsaroj9@gmail.com
ORCID: 0009-0005-9577-7051
2Professor in Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Maulana Azad University, Bujhawar, Luni, Jodhpur, Rajasthan-342001, India
Email: pharmacy.mau@gmail.com
3Associate Professor, Ayesha College of Pharmacy, Gulbarga, 585104, Karnataka, India
4Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Medical Sciences, Rajeev Gandhi South Campus, Banaras Hindu University, Barkachha, Mirzapur-231001, India
Annona squamosa L., commonly known as custard apple or sugar apple, is a tropical medicinal plant widely used in traditional systems of medicine for the treatment of infections, inflammation, metabolic disorders, and neurological conditions. In recent decades, scientific investigations have validated many of its ethnomedicinal claims, revealing a diverse phytochemical composition rich in acetogenins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and terpenoids. These constituents exhibit significant antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective activities. Despite promising pharmacological evidence, translational research remains limited, and challenges related to standardization, toxicity, and clinical validation persist. This review critically compiles botanical, phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological data on Annona squamosa, emphasizing its therapeutic potential and research gaps. The review further discusses pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications and highlights future research directions necessary to develop standardized phytopharmaceuticals from this plant. The integration of traditional knowledge with modern pharmacology suggests that Annona squamosa represents a valuable candidate for novel drug discovery and functional health products.
Keywords: Annona squamosa; phytochemistry; antidiabetic activity; antioxidant mechanism; medicinal plant pharmacology.
How to cite this article: Saroj BK, Sharma PK, Fatima K, Singh AK. An Integrative Review of Annona squamosa: From Ethnomedicinal Knowledge to Phytochemical Characterization and Modern Pharmacological Validation. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(4s): 80-92; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.4s.10
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None