Compounds derived from avocado could be effective in treating leukemia, a deadly cancer of the blood cells, according to the new research.
The study showed that a molecule in avocados fights acute myeloid leukemia (AML) directly by targeting the root of the disease i.e. the leukemia stem cells.
Packed with healthy fats, antioxidants and nutrients, avocado is also known as nature's butter. Avocado carries a slew of health benefits inside its coarse, and leathery skin.
A Canadian scientist discovered a lipid in avocado that could prove key as far as battling leukemia is concerned.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of cancer where blood stems transform into abnormal blood cells, instead of evolving into the healthy cells the body would usually produce. These cells then build up in the bone marrow and force out the healthy cells, thus leading to infection and often death, GizMag noted.
The disease can be combated at its core according to Professor Paul Spagnuolo from Canada's University of Waterloo. Professor Spagnuolo identified a compound in avocado, known as Avocatin B, which is definite in its targeting of the leukemia stem cells. Moreover, it can be applied without causing peripheral damage to the surrounding cells.
Professor Spagnuolo noted, "The stem cell is really the cell that drives the disease."
"The stem cell is largely responsible for the disease developing and it's the reason why so many patients with leukemia relapse. We've performed many rounds of testing to determine how this new drug works at a molecular level and confirmed that it targets stem cells selectively, leaving healthy cells unharmed," he added.
Professor Spagnuolo's work is still in its early stages and he estimated Avocatin B-inspired medication for leukemia to be years away from approval for actual human use. Nevertheless, he is confident it can one day greatly enhance the quality of life and life expectancy of those suffering from AML. At the moment, he is carrying out experiments with a view to preparing a drug for Phase I clinical trials.
Professor Spagnuolo's research has been published in Cancer Research. With collaboration with the Center for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM), he has filed a patent application for the use of the compound known as avocatin B, to treat AML, according to records on I4U.
"It's an exciting time for our lab. With the help of CCRM we are now pursuing commercial partnership that would take avocatin B into clinical trials," Professor Spagnuolo noted.
"Not only does avocatin B eliminate the source of AML, but its targeted, selective effects make it less toxic to the body, too," he added.
Professor Spagnuolo's research has been published in the journal Cancer Research.
