PLoS ONE (Jan 2018)

Exploration of avocado by-products as natural sources of bioactive compounds.

  • Maria Augusta Tremocoldi,
  • Pedro Luiz Rosalen,
  • Marcelo Franchin,
  • Adna Prado Massarioli,
  • Carina Denny,
  • Érica Regina Daiuto,
  • Jonas Augusto Rizzato Paschoal,
  • Priscilla Siqueira Melo,
  • Severino Matias de Alencar

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192577
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 2
p. e0192577

Abstract

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This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic properties and phenolic composition of peel and seed of avocado varieties Hass and Fuerte using green solvents. Ethanol soluble compounds were identified in peel and seed of both varieties using HPLC-MS/MS and quantified using HPLC-DAD. Agro-industrial by-products of both varieties exhibited high radical scavenging activity against synthetic free radicals (DPPH and ABTS) and reactive oxygen species (peroxyl, superoxide, and hypochlorous acid) and high ability to reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+. The main compounds with significant contribution to the antioxidant activity determined by online HPLC-ABTS●+ analyses were procyanidin B2 and epicatechin in the peel and trans-5-O-caffeoyl-D-quinic acid, procyanidin B1, catechin, and epicatechin in the seed. Peel of Fuerte significantly suppressed TNF-α and nitric oxide (NO) release (459.3 pg/mL and 8.5 μM, respectively), possibly because of the high phenolic content and antioxidant activity detected. Avocado agro-industrial by-products can be used for food and pharmaceutical purposes due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.