Atis Leaves and Fruit

1. Crushed fresh leaves can be placed near nostril having fanting fits.
2. The leaves serves as a purgative.
3. The leaves are applied to abscesses and an open wound and use to cure skin itches

Atis is the Philippine name for Sweet Sop and Sugar Apple. Atis is a relative to custard apple and belongs to
the Annona family. Atis is native to Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. Atis was
introduced to the Philippines during the Spanish times.

Atis is a small tree that grows between 10 to 20 feet high when fully matured with oblong leaves and green
heart-shaped fruits with polygonal tubercles. The atis fruit has a white, sweet flesh and black seeds.

The Atis tree is easy to grow. Just plant a seed on almost any soil and atis will grow. However, it requires
tropical or near tropical weather. When planted, Atis will begin to bear fruit in about a year's time. It will
bear fruit about 3 times a year and the sweetest fruits are those borne during the summer months.

Atis Fruit Nutritional Value (edible portion)

Food Value of Atis Fruit Per 100g Vitamins & Minerals Per 100g
Calories 91 g Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) 40 mg
Water 70 g Thiamine 0.12 mg
Carbohydrates 22 g Riboflavin 0.14 mg
Protein 2.0 g Niacin 0.80 mg
Total dietary fiber 2.0 g Carotene 6 I.U.
Fat 0.60 g Ash 1 mg
Total sugars 15% Phosphorus 40 mg
Tryptophan 9 mg Calcium 30 mg
Lysine 60 mg Iron 1.0 mg
Methionine 7.5 mg

Toxic Properties of the Atis Fruit

All parts of the atis tree have medicinal value. The seeds however are poisonous. The seeds are pounded and
made into paste. This can be applied to the scalp of the head to kill hair lice. Care should be taken when
applying atis seed paste on the scalp as this is extremely irritating to the eyes and can even cause blindness. The
paste when applied into the uterus can cause abortion.

Atis Use as Herbal Medicine

A decoction (boiling in water) of the leaves induces or hastens menstrual flow and used to treat dysentery,
colds and fever. The decoction is also used for bathing to alleviate rheumatic pain.
Crushed leaves are inhaled for dizziness and fainting.
The bark of the atis tree is used as a decoction for diarrhoea.
The root is a strong purgative and used to treat dysentery.
Infected insect bites can be cured by applying the juice from an unripe atis fruit.