Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

A.16,27Fed to rats with toxin-induced liver
injury, the fruit pulp showed hepatoprotective
activity; an effect attributed to various fatty
acid derivatives (e.g., 2E,5E,12Z,15Z)-1-hy-
droxyheneicosa-2,5,12,15-tetraen-4-one).^28
A methanol extract of the fruits showed
in vitroinhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase,
an enzyme involved in fatty acid biosynthesis.
Activity was attributed to 5E,12Z,15Z)-2-hy-
droxy-4-oxoheneicosa-5,12,15-trienyl and
several other related compounds.^29
In rabbits fed a high-fat diet, atherogenicity
of avocado oil in the diet was not significantly
different from that of olive or corn oil.^30 Rats
fed a high-cholesterol diet with the addition of
defatted avocado fruit pulp showed lower food
consumption, body weight gain, and levels of
hepatic total fat, compared to rats fed the same
diet withadded celluloseinstead ofavocado.^31
4,8^00 -Biscatechin, a condensed flavanol iso-
lated from avocado seeds, has shown antitu-
mor activity against Sarcoma 180 in mice and
Walker 256 in rats.^21 C 17 oxygenated unsatu-
rated aliphatics (especially 1,2,4-trihydroxy-
heptadeca-16-ene) isolated from avocado
(pulp and seeds) have shownin vitroantimi-
crobial activity against Gram-positive bacte-
ria, especiallyStaphylococcus aureus.22,32

TOXICOLOGY

Avocado is a known cross-reactant in indivi-
duals with latex allergy.^33 Severe allergic
reactions can occur in these patients after
eating avocado.^34
Poisoning of cattle, horses, goats, rabbits,
canaries, and fish by avocado (leaves, fruit,

bark, seeds) have been reported (LEWIS AND

ELVIN-LEWIS).

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.

Avocado oil is believed to have healing and

soothing properties to the skin and the pulp oil

is used in massage creams, muscle oils, hair

products, and others. A pharmaceutical prep-

aration containing the seed oil (unsaponifiable

fraction) has been patented for use in the

treatment of sclerosis of the skin, pyorrhea,

arthritis, and others.^35 The fruit pulp is used in

face creams.

The unsaponifiable fraction is combined

with those of soy beans for use in the treatment

of osteoarthritis.36,37

Food. Pulp has been used as a food for

thousands of years in tropical America and is

today consumed internationally.^4

Traditional Medicine. Pulp ofPersea pla-

nifolia(American avocado) used by Guate-

malan Indians as a hair pomade to stimulate

hair growth, to hasten suppuration of wounds,

and as an aphrodisiac and emmenagogue;

seeds used to treat diarrhea and dysentery;

powdered seeds used by American Indians

(Mahuna, southwest California) to treat pyor-

rhea; infusion used to treat toothache.

COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS

Fruit and pulp oil.

REFERENCES

See the General References forBAILEY2;BRUNETON;DER MARDEROSIAN AND BEUTLER;MCGUFFIN1&2;
MOERMAN;MORTON2;POUCHER;UPHOF;WATT AND MERRILL.

1. L. O. Williams, Econ. Bot., 31 , 315
   (1977).


2. K. C. Duester,J. Am. Diet. Assoc., 101 ,
   404 (2001).
   3. J. L. Weihrauch and J. M. Gardner,J. Am.
   Diet. Assoc., 78 , 39 (1978).
   4. K. C. Duester, Nutr. Today, 35 , 151
   (2000).

60 Avocado