A compound in avocado offers promise for leukemia treatment

Nutrient-rich avocado is abundant in vitamins B, E and K and potassium, and also lowers bad blood cholesterol. Often consumed in salads and sauces in North America and Europe but insufficiently present on our tables, it contains more than these nutrients. A Canadian study showed that an avocado compound called Avocatin B may help kill acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Leukemia, also called blood cancer, produces symptoms when abnormal cells fill bone marrow and spread through blood. It is classified as acute or chronic and generally as myeloid or lymphoid by cell type. Lymphoid leukemia originates in lymphocytes; myeloid leukemia involves granulocytes and monocytes and abnormal proliferation of their young precursors, myeloblasts. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), dysfunctional immature cells cannot mature into white blood cells, leaving the body vulnerable to microbes. Red blood cell and clotting-cell production is also impaired, causing clotting abnormalities, anemia, weakness, shortness of breath and easy fatigue. Treatment primarily aims to eliminate cancer cells as extensively as possible through chemotherapy. For nonresponding or recurrent disease, high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation are among limited remaining options. Despite efforts to improve treatment, survival is poor, prompting research into new methods and strategies. The Canadian study offers hope for new drugs but warrants caution.

In this laboratory study using cells from AML patients, avocado-derived Avocatin-B showed cell-killing activity in AML. It reduced cancer-cell viability without affecting normal blood cells. Avocatin-B reduced formation of reactive oxygen species known to trigger cancer and caused release of proteins, cell-death-promoting factors and enzymes from mitochondria. This killed leukemia cells dependent on reactive oxygen species. Because this was laboratory research, definitive statements are inappropriate. Clinical patient studies are needed for meaningful conclusions. The team says preparations are underway; we will share new studies when published.

In conclusion, this studyis a good starting point for Avocatin-B to become a future drug component. It absolutely does not mean AML patients should eat large quantities of avocado. All foods, not only avocado, should be consumed moderately, not in excessive amounts for treatment. Using apparently harmless plants therapeutically can deliver excessive substances and sometimes cause serious harm. Please do not use any product for treatment without your physicians’ knowledge.