Avocado (Persea americana) and Potential Anticancer Effects: Do the Effects Suppress Carcinogenesis?

Avocados have become one of the most popular fruits today and contain many anticancer nutrients, such as vitamins A-C-E, polyphenols, carotenoids, glutathione, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and dietary fiber. Inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, preventing metastasis, and eliminating cancer cells are important goals for cancer treatment. Because of their content, avocados can potentially stimulate apoptosis, inhibit cell differentiation, proliferation, and carcinogen absorption, and reduce reactive oxygen species and inflammatory cytokines. Limited human studies, in vivo studies, and in vitro studies that examined the effects of each type and part of avocado are included in this narrative review. Some in vitro studies have demonstrated the anticancer effects of avocado pulp, peel, and seeds because of their functional nutrient contents that affect apoptotic protein expression (caspase-3,-6,-7,-9), Bax, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL trigger cell cycle arrest (cellular senescence), superoxide dismutase enzyme activity (antioxidant), and suppress proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta and 6. Consuming one-half avocado/day [~68 g (edible part)] supports beneficial nutrient intake. Although some potential anticancer effects of avocados have been demonstrated in in vitro studies, more in vivo studies are needed to increase the level of evidence.