You love lawyers in salad? Aficionados of this food love its tender and melting flesh, rich in good fats(oleic and linoleic acid), potassium, good for heart health, and anti-fatigue magnesium. But even the kernel would be beneficial to health, according to the conclusions of researchers from Pennsylvania State University in the United States. In the review Food Technology and Nutritional Sciences, scientists explain that the heart of this fruit native to Central and South America is full of polyphenols with properties antioxidants capable of fight cellular inflammation. Researchers report that the Aztecs and Mayans already used avocado pit for these anti-inflammatory properties. “Ethno-pharmacological studies on Aztec and Mayan cultures have reported the use of avocado pit decoctions for the treatment of mycotic and parasitic infections, diabetes, inflammations and gastrointestinal irregularities,” they state in an article from The Insider.
In their lab experiment, the researchers tested a kernel extract on cells that stimulate the immune system and increase inflammation.
Additional work to be done
Macrophages, a type of white blood cell, were grown in petri dishes and activated with a pro-inflammatory molecule, some with avocado seed extract and some without. Macrophages stimulated with avocado seed extract produced less inflammatory substances than the others, which suggests that avocado seed has inflammation-inhibiting properties. Encouraging results according to the researchers. “We observed inhibitory activity at concentrations in the micrograms per milliliter range, which is an acceptable amount of activity to warrant further study.” However, Americans remain cautious because previous studies have shown that the consumption of avocado pit in large quantities could be toxic to the body.
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