Annona squamosa : Phytochemical Fingerprinting, Health‐Improving Traits, and Functional Applications

ABSTRACT Annona squamosa (sugar apple, Annonaceae) is a tropical fruit‐bearing plant widely consumed for its nutritional and medicinal properties. This review critically compares the reported nutritional composition, phytochemical profiles, biological activities, and potential applications of the leaves, pulp, and seeds of A. squamosa . Published chromatographic and spectrometric studies, including GC‐MS and NMR investigations, have identified 36 metabolites across the three organs. Among them, acetogenins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and essential oils showed distinct organ‐specific distribution patterns. Annonacin, an acetogenin predominantly found in the seeds, exhibited strong cytotoxic potential, whereas the leaves were rich in aporphine‐type alkaloids such as anonaine and liriodenine. Antioxidant assays revealed potent radical scavenging activity in the pulp and leaves, correlating with high total phenolic and flavonoid content. Moreover, in vitro antimicrobial screening demonstrated that the seed extracts inhibited Gram‐positive bacteria more effectively than Gram‐negative strains. The comprehensive profiling suggests that A. squamosa is a reservoir of bioactive phytochemicals with potential applications in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. Findings advance the chemotaxonomic understanding of the Annona genus and support the valorization of its underutilized plant parts. This review provides open avenues for the sustainable use of A. squamosa in integrated medicine, offering new prospects for natural product‐based drug discovery.