Avocado is an edible fruit that is cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Avocados are native to Mexico but now they are cultivated in many different countries such as Guatemala, Israel, Chile, and Brazil. In addition to its culinary use, avocado is also used for medicinal purposes. The leaves of avocados contain various phytochemicals that have been shown to possess several pharmacological properties such as antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, and antioxidant activity (1).
In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the study of phytochemicals and their bioactivities. In particular, many studies have focused on the bioactivity of phytoconstituents present in Persea americana (Aka Avocado) leaves. This study aims to investigate the phytoconstituent bioactivity of Avocado leaves by assessing their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and analgesic properties.
Investigating the Phytoconstituent Bioactivity in Persea americana Leaves
The leaves of the avocado tree are a popular source of food, but they also contain phytochemicals that have been found to have a variety of beneficial effects on human health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the bioactivity of some of these components.
Avocado is an important fruit crop that is consumed worldwide. Due to its rich content of essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and other phytochemicals, it has been used in the treatment of diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. In addition to these benefits, avocado leaves have also been reported to be rich in antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity.
A study was done at the University of Lagos, Nigeria where scientists investigated the phytoconstituent bioactivity in Avocado leaves. The researchers found that the phytoconstituents from avocado leaves have the potential to be used as a food ingredient or dietary supplement for their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.
The Methodology
The aqueous extract of the avocado leaves has been shown to produce vasorelaxation of the rat aortic ring and lower blood pressure. In addition, it has been investigated for its protective effect against hepatotoxicity induced by paracetamol, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and anticonvulsant property.
The seeds of Avocado have also been reported to lower blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive rat models with a reduction in total cholesterol, LDL, and triacylglycerol in plasma, kidney, liver, and heart of the hypertensive rat model at a high dose of the seed extract. The earlier studies revealed that phytochemical screening of the leaf extract of the Avocado tree revealed the presence of flavonoids which were powerful antioxidants capable of scavenging free radicals by donating a hydrogen atom or electron to stabilize the radical species.
The Results
The results of this study demonstrate that the leaves of Avocado tree contain a wide variety of bioactive compounds that have antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity is determined by measuring the ability of a compound to scavenge free radicals in vitro. This is an important indicator of how well the phytoconstituents could protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, which can lead to various diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's disease.
As a result, the consumption of Avocado leaves may be of assistance in the prevention of or the slowing down of the progression of a variety of disorders associated with oxidative stress. Therefore, this further explains why it is used in traditional medicine.
