Avocado tree is a natural product that has been found to be an effective hypoglycemic agent. It is also known as the alligator pear tree, avocado tree, or West Indian Avocado Tree. The plant belongs to the Lauraceae family which contains about 125 genera and about 2500 species. The leaves of this plant have been used for centuries by many indigenous communities for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. They are also used for treating burns, wounds, and insect bites among other things. (1)
Persea americana (Avocado) is one of the most popular and nutritious fruits in the world. It is a rich source of micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. The avocado fruit has been traditionally used for its hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic properties. However, these properties have not been fully investigated in vitro or in vivo. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic potential of avocado leaf extracts using various in vitro models and in vivo experiments.
Reduction of Blood glucose & Cholesterol - The Effect of Avocado Leaf Extract
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that affects the body's ability to produce or respond to insulin. The condition is characterized by high blood glucose levels and is associated with obesity and other health problems. There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes results from an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks its insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in little or no insulin production. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or when cells do not react properly to insulin. The latter form is also known as "insulin resistance."
Diabetes is a dangerous condition that can lead to severe complications if left untreated or poorly controlled. It can cause cardiovascular disease (such as heart attack and stroke) and kidney damage, among other health issues.
In this study, the Persea americana leaf extract shows promising potential as a hypoglycemic agent for managing blood glucose levels and reducing T-CHOL and LDL-CHOL in people with diabetes mellitus.
Leaf Extracts from Avocado Leaf Have Hypoglycemic and Hypocholesterolemia Potential
Avocado leaf extract shows promising potential as a hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemia agent (Two very big words for reducing blood glucose and also reduction of high cholesterol levels). This study was conducted to examine the effect of avocado leaf extracts on plasma glucose, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in rats. The effects of hypercholesterolemia on body weight, liver-to-body weight ratio, plasma glucose, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoproteins were also determined in Albino rats. The study results showed that both methanolic and aqueous leaf extracts of P. americana reduced plasma glucose, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels when compared with hypercholesterolemic controls.
Results
These findings indicate that P. americana leaf extracts, both aqueous and methanolic, reduce plasma glucose and alter lipid metabolism in hypercholesterolemic rats, leading to a decrease in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Avocado leaf extract could be a defense mechanism that prevents atherosclerosis from forming.
