It has been found out that avocados could be an effective cancer treatment, research says.
University of Waterloo professor Paul Spagnuolo investigated the potency of an avocado-based drug in fighting acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as per Science Daily. The avocado drug uses the compound avocation B, which aims to destroy leukemia stem cells.
Spagnuolo's study findings revealed that a certain lipid in avocados is the one responsible in targeting the root cause of acute myeloid leukemia, suggesting that it can considerably extend the life expectancy as well as the quality of life of people with AML.
Cancer can be treated with chemotherapy. However, Spagnuolo said that it does not eliminate the cancer cells, as per The Record.
According to the professor, the research on avocado-based medication had undergone a series of tests to know the drug's mode of action at a molecular level. He also verified that the drug is specific at targeting stem cells, which means healthy cells are left undamaged.
Now that the drug has demonstrated its capacity to eliminate the root cause of AML without harming the healthy cells, Spagnuolo is also gearing towards a commercial partnership with the Center for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM), which will help advance avocatin B in clinical trials.
Spagnuolo has filed a patent application for the use of the compound avocation B as treatment for AML. While the avocado-based drug cannot be used yet as a ratified cancer treatment, the professor is already preparing it to enter a Phase I clinical trial, in which the drug's efficacy can be determined with people with AML.