Peer-reviewed literature indicates that avocado seeds contain various bioactive compounds, such as phenolics and alkaloids, which exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties beneficial to human health.
Summary The market for avocados is among the fastest expanding markets worldwide, and consumption, particularly in North America and Europe, has increased during recent decades due largely to a combination of socio‐economic and marketing factors. Avocado production, however, is associated with significant water conflicts, stresses and hot spots, as well as with other negative environmental and socio‐economic impacts on local communities in the main production zones. In considering near‐future climatic change in tropical and subtropical areas where avocados are produced, an urgent road map is needed to avoid and mitigate negative effects of avocado production. This road map needs to bring authorities and policymakers together with large and small producers from areas with present and projected future water scarcity to evaluate the critical capacity and optimal levels of avocado production. The EU as one of the most important markets for this fruit could facilitate and support such a road map and at the same time critically promote imports from countries and regions where current and future severe water risk are not further threatened. Finally, consumer behaviour can contribute to minimising negative effects by making a conscious effort to engage in ethical consumption and environmental conservation, contributing to the sustainability of communities in producing areas.
The growing emphasis on sustainability and circular economy strategies has driven increasing interest in the valorization of agro-industrial by-products. Among these, the peel and seed of avocado (<i>Persea americana</i>), typically discarded during processing, have emerged as promising sources of bioactive compounds, particularly phenolic constituents with recognized antioxidant capacity. This review critically examines the current scientific literature on the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and potential health benefits associated with avocado peel and seed. In addition, it explores recent technological advances in extraction methods and highlights the applicability of these by-products in the formulation of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and other health-related products. Challenges related to safety, bioavailability, and regulatory aspects are also discussed. By consolidating available evidence, this work supports the potential of avocado peel and seed as valuable functional ingredients and contributes to sustainable innovation in the food and health industries.
<h4>Purpose of review</h4>This narrative review aims to explore the anti-inflammatory potential of fruit seed extracts, emphasizing their bioactive components such as antioxidants, polyphenols, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. By examining studies published from 1993 to 2024, it evaluates how these natural compounds may contribute to reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.<h4>Recent findings</h4>Recent literature indicates a strong correlation between the intake of fruit and vegetable-based compounds and reduced inflammatory markers. In contrast, diets high in sugars, saturated fats, and additives are linked with heightened inflammatory responses. Several fruit seed extracts demonstrate notable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties, largely attributed to their high concentrations of polyphenols and other phytochemicals. Fruit seed extracts contain bioactive compounds that modulate key inflammatory signaling pathways, such as NF-κB and MAPK, and exhibit strong antioxidant properties. These mechanisms contribute to their potential use as natural therapeutic agents for managing chronic inflammatory conditions, including cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and metabolic disorders. Future research should focus on clinical validation, standardization of extract formulations, and understanding long-term safety and efficacy in human populations.
The cosmeceutical industry has been blooming over the years, necessitating a demand for safe and effective options. Fruit bioactive compounds are reported as safe for human health and broadly effective alternatives with less adverse effects. Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is a tropical fruit rich in phytonutrients and lipid-soluble bioactive compounds. These compounds have been reported to have various potential health benefits, including improving skin health. This scoping review investigated the bioactive compounds of avocados that were reported to confer beneficial activities on the skin. Published data between August 1982 till February 2022 were extracted from Ovid Medline, Scopus, Pubmed, SciFinder and Web of Science. A total of 307 published articles were identified using the search terms, of which 31 full articles were reviewed and appraised in this synthesis. This comprehensive scoping review examined the cosmeceutical activities of bioactive phytochemicals found in avocado (Persea americana Mill.) outlining their mechanisms of action. The review highlighted the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-aging properties of avocado extracts. Acetone extracts, especially from seeds, showed the highest antioxidant capacity and were also effective in antimicrobial activities. Methanol extracts demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, bioactive compounds from avocados were found to enhance wound healin
Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae), commonly known as avocado, is a well-known food because of its nutrition and health benefits. The seeds of avocado are major byproducts, and thus their phytochemicals and bioactivities have been of interest for study. The chemical components of avocado seeds were investigated by using UPLC-qTOF-MS/MS-based molecular networking, resulting in the isolation of seven new oxindole alkaloids ( 1 - 7 ) and two new benzoxazinone alkaloids ( 8 and 9 ). The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were identified by the analysis of NMR data in combination with co
Globally, about 8.06 million tonnes of avocado are produced annually. According to Food and Agricultural Organisation Corporate Statistical Database, 2020, Kenya was ranked the 6th highest avocado producer globally. The processing of avocado leads to the production of large quantities of peels and seeds that are typically disposed off as waste without any further application. Avocado peels and seeds are claimed to contain high amounts of phytochemicals that offer therapeutic and other nutritional benefits. These compounds can be used to produce economically high-value products. The amounts of phenols present vary with different factors such as the varieties of avocado, level of ripening, maturation, growing conditions, and climatic conditions. Studies have shown that phenolics found in avocado peels and seeds exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties and contain related health benefits. Despite findings, that these by-products contain high-value functional properties that are beneficial to human health, pharmaceutical and food industry, they still remain underutilized. Avocado seeds and peels are currently being used traditionally in the production of soaps, pharmaceuticals, and food products, including beverage products. This review, therefore, focuses on the avocado production trend in Kenya from the year 2011 to 2020 compared to other parts of the world, with emphasis on the composition of avocado seeds and peels and their utilization in food prod
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