NewsRx.com
March 31, 2005
"Although the avocado is known as a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids, there has been far less attention given to its content of other bioactive substances including carotenoids, which might contribute to cancer preventive properties similar to those attributed to other fruits and vegetables," investigators in the United States reported.
"The yellow-green color of the avocado prompted us to study the carotenoid content of this fruit using established methods in our laboratory. The California Hass avocado (Persea americana Mill.) was selected for study, because it is the most commonly consumed variety in the southwest United States," explained Q.Y. Lu and colleagues, University of California at Los Angeles.
"These avocados were found to contain the highest content of lutein among commonly eaten fruits as well as measurable amounts of related carotenoids (zeaxanthin, alpha-carotene, and beta-carotene). Lutein accounted for 70% of the measured carotenoids, and the avocado also contained significant quantities of vitamin E," the research team discovered.
Scientists said, "An acetone extract of avocado containing these carotenoids and tocopherols was shown to inhibit the growth of both androgen-dependent (LNCaP) and androgen-independent (PC-3) prostate cancer cell lines in vitro. Incubation of PC-3 cells with the avocado extract led to G2/M cell cycle arrest accompanied by an increase in p27 protein expression."
The researchers concluded, "In common with other colorful fruits and vegetables, the avocado contains numerous bioactive carotenoids. Because the avocado also contains a significant amount of monounsaturated fat, these bioactive carotenoids are likely to be absorbed into the bloodstream, where in combination with other diet-derived phytochemicals they may contribute to the significant cancer risk reduction associated with a diet of fruits and vegetables."
Lu and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry (Inhibition of prostate cancer cell growth by an avocado extract: role of lipid-soluble bioactive substances. J Nutr Biochem, 2005;16(1):23-30).
For additional information, contact D. Heber, University California Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, Center Human Nutrition, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
The publisher of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Inc., 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710, USA.
Keywords: Los Angeles, California, United States, Hass Avocado, Alternative Medicine, Fruits, Carotenoids, Vitamin E, Antioxidants, Cancer, Prostate Cancer and Oncology. This article was prepared by Biotech Law Weekly editors from staff and other reports.
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