Methods for extraction of Acetogenins from the seeds of Annona squamosa: A review

Abstract

Annona squamosa L., commonly known as custard apple or sugar apple, is a tropical fruit tree of the Annonaceae family, renowned for its seeds’ rich content of annonaceous acetogenins (ACGs). These lipophilic polyketides exhibit potent bioactivities, including anticancer, antiparasitic, and pesticidal properties, making them promising candidates for pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. Efficient isolation and purification methods are critical to harnessing these compounds due to their complex chemical structures and low natural abundance. This review comprehensively examines recent advancements in the extraction, isolation, and purification of ACGs from A. squamosa seeds, focusing on techniques such as solvent extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), thermosonication-assisted extraction (TSAE), supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and chromatographic methods. The review discusses the advantages, limitations, and optimization strategies of these methods, alongside their impact on yield, purity, and bioactivity. Challenges such as toxicity concerns and scalability are addressed, and future directions for improving extraction efficiency and sustainability are proposed.