Avocados may prevent mouth cancer and reduce the rate of cancer growth, US research has found. The Ohio Sate University study, due for publication in the Seminars in Cancer Biology journal this year, is the first study to relate phytochemicals in avocados to mouth cancer.
Hass avocados have been shown to inhibit the growth of mouth cancer cells in the laboratory, and cause the death of precancerous cells and cancer cell lines, leaving normal cells untouched.
Researchers have found that it is the high levels of phytochemicals, chemical compounds from plant that are often found in dark-coloured fruit and vegetables, in avocados that may prevent cancer.
Dr Steven D’Ambrosio of Ohio State University said: “It’s very promising. I think it reinforces the healthy diet concept of increasing fruit and vegetables, and is an additional fruit that can prevent cancer.”
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