## 3 Avocado's Composition in Nutrients and Bioactives
### Avocado Bioactive Compounds
#### 3.2.4 Fatty Acids  
Avocado is rich in several health-promoting fatty acids, including both the main categories of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) [82], with both types being reported to act against thrombogenesis and atherogenicity and to be protective agents in many diseases like CVDs, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer [26; 33; 82]. Avocado's content in fatty acids has been presented with a focus being on the amounts of omega-3 (\(\omega\)-3) and omega-6 (\(\omega\)-6) valuable PUFA, like the \(\alpha\)-linoleic acid (ALA), eicosanethenoic acid (EDA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), since these PUFAs cannot be synthesized from the human body, suggesting that they can also be ingested by avocado fruit. Avocado fruit is renowned for its oil extraction, which is high in lipids, especially monounsaturated fatty acids, with oleic acid being the prevalent [26; 33; 35; 83; 84; 85; 86; 87; 88]. Avocado oil's health benefits are mostly due to its high quantity of monounsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols, and other bioactive substances with antioxidant effects. Despite the fact that saturated fatty acids like palmitic acid have various health effects, they also help to stabilize oxidation [33; 89; 90]. The avocado oil derived from ripe avocado pulp is highly valued for its food and cosmetic applications. It has a high concentration of oleic acid, a beneficial omega-9 fatty acid, as well as linoleic and palmitic acids. Additionally, it consists of \(\alpha\)-tocopherol (a subset of lipid compounds, known as vitamin E) and the fat-soluble vitamins A and D. \(\alpha\)-tocopherol, with a concentration ranging from 17.31 to 58.07 mg/kg as shown in Table 3, is a powerful antioxidant that prevents oxidative damage. Avocado oil's omega-3 (\(\omega\)-3), omega-6 (\(\omega\)-6), and omega-9 (\(\omega\)-9) fatty acids are important in eicosanoid signaling, while an optimal balance could reduce inflammatory risks linked with disorders like obesity [15; 83; 84]. When it comes to avocado by-products, as shown in Table 3, with a  
Figure 3: The structures of the most characteristic carotenoid compounds present in avocado (all structures were obtained from Molview). concentration of 27.04-60.06% of total fatty acids, oleic acid is also the major fatty acid in avocado seeds, followed by linoleic, stearic, palmitic, and arachidonic acids. Palmitic and stearic acids are the major saturated fatty acids identified, while linoleic and arachidonic are the major polyunsaturated fatty acids. While certain studies have shown variances in fatty acid composition, notably in the preponderance of specific acids, the overall profile highlights the richness of \(\omega\)-6 fatty acids in seeds [26; 33; 83; 84; 85; 86; 87]. The lipid extract of avocado seeds comprises two types of lipids: long-chain fatty acids and fatty acid derivates, which are predominantly composed of unsaturated chains and saturated long-chain fatty acids. Avocatins and polyhydroxylated fatty alcohols are some of the major fatty acid derivatives. The long-chain fatty acids contained in avocado have been reported in several studies to have anticancer activities against colon cancer cell lines and are being considered as possible chemotherapy adjuvants. Numerous bioactive substances, especially long-chain lipid molecules such as avocatins and persenins, have been found to exhibit anti-cancer properties independently. This demonstrates the potential for natural chemical combinations to target therapeutic pathways and induce apoptosis in cancer cells [91]. More specifically, avocado seeds' lipid extract inhibits fatty acid oxidation, increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and induces caspase-dependent death in Caco-2 cells, as well as regulates inflammation related to cytokine release. Similar studies have discovered that avocado lipids include apoptosis in oral and breast cancer cells.