Mullu seetha, lakshman phal in Hindi, is soursop or graviola, a small Caribbean tree whose large, green, soft-spined fruit has white, fibrous, sweet-sour flesh. It is grown in Kerala, Karnataka and other humid parts of India and eaten fresh or as juice. Online sellers promote graviola leaf and capsules as a cancer remedy; there is no clinical evidence, and some of its compounds damage nerve cells.
- Botanical name
- Annona muricata L.
- Family
- Annonaceae
- Tamil
- Mullu seetha
- Hindi
- Mamphal
- Sanskrit
- Sītāphala
- Parts used
- Fruit
- Habit
- Small evergreen with a large, soft-spined fruit
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Mullu seetha
It is a small evergreen tree with glossy, dark green, oblong leaves that smell when crushed.
Thick, fleshy, yellow-green flowers grow singly on the trunk and branches.
The fruit is large, oval or heart-shaped, up to thirty centimetres long, dark green with soft, curved spines.
The flesh is white, juicy and fibrous, with many shiny black seeds.
Sitaphal is smaller, with knobbly skin and no spines.
Traditional use of Mullu seetha
Kitchen
The pulp is eaten fresh or blended into juice and ice cream.
Tropical food practice
Folk use
Leaf tea is used in Caribbean folk practice for sleep and fevers.
Caribbean folk practice
Modern notes on Mullu seetha
Soursop contains annonaceous acetogenins such as annonacin, which damage nerve cells in laboratory studies.
In Guadeloupe, heavy use of soursop fruit and leaf tea has been linked to an atypical parkinsonism.
In 2008 United States regulators acted against companies marketing graviola with unsupported cancer claims.
Mullu seetha safety
Do not use soursop leaf tea or graviola capsules as medicine, especially for a serious illness. Remove the seeds, which are toxic. Occasional fruit is a common food.
Ecology and sourcing
It is native to the Caribbean and Central America.
Beetles pollinate its flowers, and fruit set is often uneven.
It needs warm, humid weather and does not tolerate frost.
Related plants
Also in Annonaceae
Questions about Mullu seetha
Does graviola work against cancer?
There is no clinical evidence that it does.
Is Mullu seetha the same as sitaphal?
No. Sitaphal is Annona squamosa.
Are the seeds of Mullu seetha edible?
No. Remove them.
Is the fruit of Mullu seetha safe?
In normal food amounts.
Where is Mullu seetha grown in India?
In humid areas such as Kerala and Karnataka.
Sources
- Annona muricata L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q1709343 (Annona muricata)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.