Custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) seed oil: Extraction methods, phytochemical composition, and potential applications: A review

Abstract

Custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) seed oil, rich in bioactive compounds like acetogenins, flavonoids, and essential fatty acids, offers promising applications in medicine, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and eco-friendly agriculture. This review explores various extraction techniques—Soxhlet, cold press, solvent-based, ultrasound-assisted, and supercritical CO₂-and evaluates their impact on oil yield, chemical composition, and sustainability. Characterization through GC-MS and FTIR highlights compounds with antioxidant, anticancer, insecticidal, and healing properties. The review calls for optimized extraction protocols and further clinical research to unlock the full industrial potential of custard apple seed oil.