**2. Origin and geographical distribution of African medicinal plants namely** *A. muricata*

Annonaceae plant species are native to south tropical America and south Mexico [1].

Its center of geographic diversity is in the north of South America and it is distributed in different tropical regions of the world (Love and Paull, 2011).

Soursop is used in food, beverages, and other preparations [2].

The most of African annonaceae are observed mostly in lowland or mountainous rain forests in Africa and Madagascar. However, a limited diversity of plants has adjusted to slightly more arid conditions and can be found in thickets or savanna vegetation [3].

Africa is a botanical continent which corresponds to its geographic distribution.

Although its origin is unknown, *Annona muricata* is believed to be native to tropical America, especially the West Indies. It was one of very first fruit trees to be introduced to the East after Columbus' expedition to America; Spaniards introduced it to the Philippines early on, and it today develops in nearly any tropical country. Before World War II, this species was introduced to the most of the Pacific Islands. In tropical America and west Africa, it is widely planted and naturalized [4].

The morphological characteristics of these plant species are depicted in **Figures 1**–**3.**

Its geographic distribution is well documented on the agroforestry species database.

*Annona muricata* is native from Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis,

Annona muricata *(Graviola): Nutraceutical in COVID-19 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104139*

St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, Virgin Islands (US), Zanzibar [5].

There are some places where tree species have not been not planted but yet introduced as exotic Fruit species like Benin, Cambodia, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Laos, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Reunion, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, US, Vietnam.

Below is a map showing countries where these plant species have been planted. (**Figure 4**).

**Figure 1.** *Soursop tree and leaves (own image).*

**Figure 2.** *Soursop fruit skin (own image).*
