Annona purpurea

Annona purpurea, commonly known as the purple custard apple, is a tropical fruit-bearing tree native to the Americas. Valued for its vibrant, dark-skinned fruit, it offers a sweet, creamy pulp. Beyond its culinary appeal, this species holds significant ethnobotanical importance, with various parts utilized in traditional medicinal practices.

  • Scientific name: Annona purpurea
  • Family: Annonaceae
  • Native range: Northern America

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and falls under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Magnoliales, it is classified under the family Annonaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Annona.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Magnoliales WCVP
Family Annonaceae WCVP
Genus Annona WCVP

Common Names

This plant, Annona purpurea, is known by several common names across different linguistic contexts. In Dutch, it is referred to as Soncoya, while in Komi (koi), Komi-Permyak (kv), Lbe (lbe), and Mari (mrj), it is consistently called Сонкойя.
Language Common Name Source
nl Soncoya Wikidata
koi Сонкойя Wikidata
kv Сонкойя Wikidata
lbe Сонкойя Wikidata
mrj Сонкойя Wikidata
ru Сонкойя Wikidata
udm Сонкойя Wikidata
bg лилава анона Wikidata
pl Flaszowiec purpurowy Wikidata
fa آنونا ارغوانی Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions of Mexico. It can be found spanning from the central areas to the coastal stretches of the Mexico Gulf. Additionally, its presence extends into the Mexico Southwest and the Mexico Southeast territories. Beyond the borders of Mexico, the species is also documented within the Central American nation of Belize. Together, these locations highlight the diverse tropical habitats where the species thrives.

Region Area Source
Mexico Mexico Central WCVP
Mexico Mexico Gulf WCVP
Mexico Mexico Southwest WCVP
Mexico Mexico Southeast WCVP
Central America Belize WCVP
Central America Costa Rica WCVP
Central America El Salvador WCVP
Central America Guatemala WCVP
Central America Honduras WCVP
Central America Nicaragua WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Annona purpurea, possesses various components that are utilized in traditional medicinal practices. The large, fleshy leaves are often the primary part used, frequently prepared as infusions or poultices to treat skin ailments or inflammatory conditions. The stems serve as the structural foundation of the plant and can be utilized in decoctions to address digestive issues. Additionally, the seeds contain specific bioactive compounds that are studied for their potential therapeutic properties, though they must be handled with care due to their potency.
Total parts
3
Scientific sources
5
Plant Part Sources Confidence
seeds 2 ★☆☆☆☆
leaves 2 ★☆☆☆☆
stems 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Annona purpurea has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 24 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-predicentrine, (-)-glaucine, N-methylasimilobine, N-methyllaurotetanine, adenine.

Total chemicals
24
Scientific sources
24

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
(+)-predicentrine 1 ★☆☆☆☆
(-)-glaucine 1 ★☆☆☆☆
N-methylasimilobine 1 ★☆☆☆☆
N-methyllaurotetanine 1 ★☆☆☆☆
adenine 1 ★☆☆☆☆
beta-sitosterol 1 ★☆☆☆☆
beta-sitosterol-beta-D-glucoside 1 ★☆☆☆☆
dehydrolirinidine 1 ★☆☆☆☆
glaziovine 1 ★☆☆☆☆
isorhamnetin-3-O-rhamnoside 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Activities

Annona purpurea has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Total activities
1
Scientific sources
2

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Confidence
Cytotoxic 2 ★☆☆☆☆