ABSTRACT
Diabetes is a chronic disease for which a significant amount of naturally occurring plant-based products is frequently used as a therapy source. One of the plants that has been traditionally used to treat diabetes is Annona squamosa L. It is a fruit tree belonging to the family Annonaceae and is widely found in tropical and subtropical regions. The plant has a long history of traditional uses by different traditional medicine systems ascribed to various parts of the plant. Due to its infamous traditional claims by various cultures worldwide, various A. squamosa-based products, including dietary supplements, are being marketed. However, several epidemiology studies have reported on the link between the development of atypical Parkinson’s disease with the consumption of A. squamosa fruits. Studies have identified various neurotoxic compounds from the annonaceous acetogenins group from seeds and fruits of A. squamosa. Due to the current lack of data from interventional studies, efficacy and safety evaluation of A. squamosa remains lacking. Therefore, further investigations should be planned to enable full usage of A. squamosa medicinal benefits while finding solutions for the neurotoxicity attributed to its uses. Overall, this review aims to provide researchers with current information related to the antidiabetic potential of A. squamosa without compromising on its neurotoxic effects to provide a better platform for appropriate clinical trials on human health.
