The Health Benefits of Avocado

I really love with this amazing fruit of avocado, or alpukat in Bahasa Indonesia, whether sweetened it as a dessert, or by making it as fruit juice. Avocado juice is considered to be my favorite drink. I used to order avocado juice, everytime I eat in my favorite chicken noodle restaurant.

Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is botanically classified in three groups, West Indian Avocado (Persea gratissima Gaertn.), Mexican Avocado (Persea drymifolia Schlecht. and Cham.), and Guatemalan Avocado (Persea nubigena var. guatemalensis L. Wms.). Despite all of avocado varieties, it is believed to be originated from Mexico. (Morton, J. 1987)

The Medicinal Uses of Avocado

The medicinal uses of avocado as alternative treatment mostly by using its leaves, seeds, root bark and shoots. The extracts of the fruits are used for skin treatment by many cosmetic industries in products to moisten dry skin face or body.

The Leaves of Avocado

The leaves of avocado possess antibiotic activity. The leaves are used to employ as a vermifuge, or antihelminthics (drugs that expel parasitic worms from the body), and remedy for dysentery. By directly chewed it as a remedy for pyorrhea (periodontal disease, or inflammation of the gums and tooth). The leaves poultices are used to apply on wounds. Heated leaves are used to relieve neuralgia by applying it on the forehead.

The aqueous extract of the leaves has a prolonged hypertensive effect. The decoction of avocado leaves are taken as a remedy to treat diarrhea, sore throat, hemorrhage, to stimulate and regulate menstruation, and are also drunk as a stomachic.

The Seeds of Avocado

The seeds of avocado possess insecticidal, fungicidal, and anti-microbial activities. The avocado seed is rich in phenolic compounds, which may play a role in the putative health effects. The extracts of avocado seeds were also used as ink for writing and had potential colorant properties.

The decoction of avocado seeds are used in the Mexican traditional medicine to treat oral bacterial diseases, and to relieve toothache by putting it into a tooth cavity. The powdered seed is believed to cure dandruff. The oil extracts of avocado seed are also used to treat skin eruptions.

The Scientific Studies

The following are several scientific studies conducted by scientists around the world to demonstrate the efficacy of avocado plants for alternate medicines:

Anti-hyperlipidemic

Several studies had shown that avocado seeds may improve hypercholesterolemia (high levels of cholesterol in the blood). High cholesterol will increase your chance of getting heart disease, stroke, hypertension, inflammatory conditions and diabetes.

A study using 15 healthy and 30 hypercholesterolemic patients (15 of them with associated type 2 diabetes mellitus) who received an avocado enriched diet. A week later, the healthy individuals had 16% decrease of total cholesterol level. In hypercholesterolemic patients had shown significant decrease of total cholesterol by 17%, 22% of triglycerides, 22% of bad cholesterol, or low density lipoprotein (LDL), and also increase 11% of good cholesterol, or high density lipoprotein (HDL). (López Ledesma R, et al 1996)

Avocado seed contains hig levels of phenolic compounds, in which had shown antioxidant properties. The antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds in Avocado seed extracts may be responsible for the hypocholesterolemic activity in hyperlipidemic mice. (Pahua-Ramos ME, et al. 2012)

Anti-diabetic

The Avocado leaves have been used in the treatment of diabetes in Latin America and Africa. To show the anti-diabetic effect of avocado, Lima CR, et al. from Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil, used rats as subjects.

Streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats were given hydroalcoholic extract of the avocado leaves for a month. The result indicated that hydroalcoholic extract of avocado leaves managed to reduce blood glucose levels and improved the metabolic state of the rats. (Lima CR, et al. 2012)

Anti-cancer

Studies have shown that phytochemicals extracted from the avocado fruit managed to induce cell cycle arrest, inhibit growth, and induce apoptosis in precancerous and cancer cell lines. Recent studies indicated that phytochemicals extracted from avocado fruits were useful in the proliferation of human lymphocyte cells, and decreased chromosomal aberrations induced by cyclophosphamide (drug that is used to treat cancers, Hodgkin's disease, and autoimmune disorders).

The study concludes that phytochemicals from the avocado fruits can be utilized for making active chemoprotective substances for decresing side effects of chemotherapy in cancer therapy. (Paul R, et al. 2011)

The leaves and root bark of avocado are also used in Nigerian traditional medicine for the treatment of cancer diseases. The study uses four cancer cell lines, breast cancer (MCF-7 and BT-20), and osteocarcinoma (MG-63 and Saos-2), to demonstrate the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects.

The methanolic extracts of avocado root bark is shown significant anti-proliferative activity against estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cell lines, and its potential as anti-cancer agent, in which also helpful in drug designing and discovery. (Engel N, et al. 2011)

Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antimycobacterial, and Antioxidant

Avocado leaves are used in Mexican traditional medicine to treat gastrointestinal disorders. The methanolic extracts of avocado leaves are shown high anti-Helicobacter pylori activity, and inhibitory effect against Helicobacter pylori, bacteria which can cause digestive illnesses, including gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. (Castillo-Juárez I, et al. 2009)

Persin, compounds isolated from avocado leaves, is shown to have antifungal properties and to be toxic to silkworms. The study had shown that persin at the dose rate of 60-100 mg/kg has the same effect on mammary glands in lactating mice. (Oelrichs PB, et al. 1995)

Another active compounds isolated from avocado, in which are avocadenol A, avocadenol B, (2R,4R)-1,2,4-trihydroxynonadecane, and (2R,4R)-1,2,4-trihydroxyheptadec-16-ene, showed antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. (Lu YC, et al. 2012)

The extracts of seeds and peel of avocado contained four polyphenolic classes, flavanol monomers, proanthocyanidins, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonol glycosides. But, the peel extracts had shown a higher total phenolic compound content and antioxidant activity when compared to the seed extracts. Both seeds and peel of avocado can be utilized as a functional food ingredient or as an antioxidant additive. (Kosińska A, et al. 2012)

Avocado Based Products

Below are several avocado based products which are sold on Amazon.com

Two avocado oil extracts which can be used for culinary purposes, as salad dressing, body massage, and hair treatment.

Bella Vado Organic Extra Virgin Avocado Oil	Now Foods Avocado Oil

Also, I once used below hair shampoo which contains avocado oil extracts.

Pantene Pro-Vitamin Nature Care Set Shampoo + Conditioner 340ml	Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Smooth Vitality Shampoo

Read my other amazing fruits articles!

• Soursop Benefits Scam?
• The Discarded Queen of Fruits
• The Excellent Fruit of Pineapple
• The Health Benefits of Starfruit
• The Red in Green
• What Makes You Should Eat Papaya?

Link Between Inflammation and Cancer

Toes inflamed

Inflammation, a part of unknown immune system response which occurs in reaction to any type of injury. (Ferrero-Miliani L, et al. 2007) In normal conditions, the inflammatory process will be recovered by itself with help from the body resistant (immunity). We can attain our body immunity by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in antioxidants, such as, starfruit, papaya,, carrot, cabbage, and mangosteen, or other supplements that could boost our immune system, to help our body to resist infection. But in some cases, inflammatory process might develop into chronic inflammatory diseases.

Aulus Cornelius Celsus (circa 25 BC — 50 AD)

A Roman physician, who first characterized the signs of inflammation, in which are, calor (warmth), dolor (pain), tumor (swelling) and rubor (redness). He had described in detail of numerous ancient medicinal remedies, which included surgical procedures of removing cataract, and treating bladder stones, in his eight books of De Medicina (On Medicine).

Rudolph Carl Virchow (13 October 1821 — 5 September 1902)

A German physician who was known as the father of modern pathology, who described the link between inflammation and cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, pulmonary diseases, neurological diseases and other chronic diseases. Virchow is also known as the first who recognized leukemia cells.

In honour to Rudolph Carl Virchow, several medical terms are named after his. Virchow's gland, or Virchow's node, is the medical term for the presence of metastatic cancer in a lymph node, in the root of the neck left of the midline. While Virchow's cell, is the medical term for a macrophage in Hansen's disease, or known as leprosy.

The last three decades, extensive researches by scientists around the world, had confirmed the link between inflammation with cancer and other chronic diseases. Several anti inflammatory agents had been used for centuries to treat cancer and other chronic diseases, including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or Ayurvedic medication.

Cancer, an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of the cells that make up living things. Cancer in Latin means crab, and it was Celsus who translated from the Greek term of carcinos, which also means crab. Hippocrates was the first who used the word carcinos in referring to malignant tumors.

Cancer had been recognized by the Egyptians since 1500 BC. Cancer is actually widespread in most forms of plant and animal life. There are more than 200 different kinds of cancer are recognized in human life. The description of cancer above is nearly the same with Virchow's cell theory, omnis cellula e cellula, every living cell comes from another living cell.

The Cancer's 7 Danger Signals by the American Cancer Society also indicates the link between inflammation and cancer, in which are:

1. Unusual bleeding, or discharge.
2. A lump, thickening in the breast, or elsewhere.
3. A sore that does not heal.
4. Change in bowel, or bladder habits.
5. Hoarseness, or cough.
6. Indigestion, or difficulty in swallowing.
7. Change in a wart, or mole.

When above signals last longer than two weeks, it is essential that a doctor be consulted. And do not used any alternative medications by your self without doctor's advised, or any experts of alternative medications.

Although we could treat ourselves using natural anti inflammatory agents, such as, cucurbitacins from muskmelon, carotenoids from carrot, curcuminoids from white turmeric, sulforaphane from cabbage, and xanthones from the rind of mangosteen, herbalist expert should be consulted. Because most herbal medicines for cancer treatment are poisonous, for example, anti inflammatory and cytotoxic agents of phalerin, derived from the poison fruit of mahkota dewa.

Chinese Antitumor Herbal Drugs (2)

Sophora subprostrata	Sophora flavescens Ait

The rhizome of Sophora subprostrata and Sophora flavescens Ait are also used as herbs in TCM. The alkaloids isolated from the root are known as matrine, oxymatrine, and sophocarpine, in which all of them possess anticancer activities.

Matrine derived from Sophora flavescens Ait, which is widely used to treat diseases such as viral hepatitis, cardiac arrhythmia and skin inflammations, possesses strong antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo. (Ma L, et al. 2008)

Matrine is found successfully induced the apoptosis and inhibited the in vitro and ex vivo in the growth of human lung cancer A549 and hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells. (Zhang Y, et al. 2009)

Sophora subprostrata also called Sophora tonkinensis or Sophora tetraptera, was first recorded in the Kaibao Bencao (973 A.D.). Subprostrata is traditionally used to alleviate heat and toxin, to disperse swellings, for painful swelling in the throat, mouth, and gums, to clear lung heat, to alleviate constipation, and to resolve masses (including carcinoma).

Sophocarpine derived from the Genus of Sophora is also a potential antiarrhythmic (preventing irregularities or abnormal rhythms of the heart) agent. (Yang ZF, et al. 2011)

Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim

Also known in English as Chinese cucumber. Trichosanthin, alkaloid isolated from the rhizome of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim, is used as TCM to drain heat and generate fluids, clear and drain lung heat, transform phlegm, moisten lung dryness, resolve toxicity and expel pus.

Trichosanthin also has abortifacient, antitumor, anti-HIV, and immunoregulatory functions. Trichosanthin may have potential therapeutic value for transplantation rejection and other inflammatory diseases. (Gong Q, et al. 2008)

Although trichosanthin might possible as a remedy for AIDS, but, these root extracts of Trichosanthes are extremely toxic, and self medication using the root extracts are not advised.

Strobilanthes cusia

The leaf of Strobilanthes cusia, also known as Da Ching Yeh or Chinese Rain Bell, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This beautiful blooming shrub is also used as a garden plant. Based on pharmacological tests, indirubin, a compound derived from Strobilanthes cusia, has anticancer activity. (Li L, et al. 1993)

Strobilanthes cusia is used to treat influenza, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, encephalitis B, viral pneumonia, mumps, sore throat, aphthae, inflammatory diseases with redness of skin, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The extract of Strobilanthes cusia leaves is also possessed antinociceptive (reducing pain sensations), anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects.

Rabdosia rubescens

The whole plant of Rabdosia rubescens, or also known as Dong Ling Cao, is used as herbs by TCM. Oridonin, a natural diterpenoid (hydrocarbons) purified from Rabdosia rubescens, managed to inhibit the growth of multiple myeloma (MM, U266, and RPMI8226), acute lymphoblastic T-cell leukemia (Jurkat), and adult T-cell leukemia (MT-1) cells. (Ikezoe T, et al. 2005)

In mouse experiments, the extract from Rabdosia rubescens suppressed breast cancer xenograft size and decreased the tumor vessel density. (Sartippour MR, et al. 2005)

The aqueous extract of Rabdosia rubescens, which has antiangiogenic activity, may demonstrated clinical efficacy as a treatment for advanced prostate cancer. (Meade-Tollin LC, et al. 2004)

The aqueous extract is also safe and effective for patients with chronic pharyngitis. (Ma Z, et al. 2011)

Cucumis melo Linn

Also known as Muskmelon. Cucurbitacins, biochemical compounds derived from Cucumis melo, possess strong pharmacological properties, such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects. Cucurbitacin B has a potential value for suppressing metastasis of human hepatoma cells. (Zhou X, et al. 2012)

Cucurbitacin B regulates immature myeloid cell differentiation and enhances antitumor immunity in patients with lung cancer. (Lu P, et al. 2012)

The combination Cucurbitacin B with chemotherapeutic agents, such as, docetaxel, or gemcitabine, can augment the antitumor and antiproliferative effects, in which inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in vitro. (Aribi A, et al. 2012)

This post is the second chapter from the previous post Chinese Antitumor Herbal Drugs.