Avocado (Persea gratissima, Persea americana Mill.) is native to Mexico and Central America, belongs to the Lauraceae family.

Persea americana synonyms: Persea  gratissima, Persea drymifolia, Persea nubigena, Laurus persea

Other species: Persea mexicana, Persea obovatifolia, Persea  indica, Persea borbonia.

Hass cultivar, the most widespread in the world, contains a variety of essential nutrients and important phytochemicals.

Composition: 71% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), 13% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), 16% saturated fatty acids (SFA).

In a fruit of 68 grams are found (1) :

Oleic acid is the main monounsaturated fatty acid with anti-inflammatory activity, and palmitic acid the main saturated fat.

One of its components, perseorangin, is a natural pigment that develops an orange-red colour when the seeds are crushed.

What it is used for and where

Medical

Used as an adjunct in the treatment of osteoarthritis (2) and diabetes (experimentation on rats) (3).

In a 12-week study of overweight or obese women and men where the intake of avocado Hass was a component of a low-calorie diet to lose weight, a significant decrease in serum glucose and decrease in Body Mass Index (in kg/m²) was observed (4).

A composition of one third pear oil and two thirds soybean oil (ASU) is a plant extract that is easily found in pharmacies and herbalists. This study has analyzed it in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and hip. The results confirmed its beneficial effects on the knee, but not on the hip (5).

An oil with excellent nutritional characteristics is extracted from avocado . However, the characteristics of this oil are directly proportional to the quality, ripeness, method of extraction, extraction temperature, solvents used for extraction and storage of the fruit. Avocado oil contains a high content (69.4%) of monounsaturated fatty acids (antioxidants and anti-inflammatories), while saturated fatty acids represent only 14% of the total (6).

The seeds of avocado, in the form of a centrifuged methanolic extract, can be used as a natural dye re-orange, but above all their antioxidant activity, referred to the high polyphenolic content, could be considered a natural anti-cancer remedy (7).

Cosmetics

Avocado yields an oil that acts in cosmetic formulations as a protective emollient agent and counteracts dehydration and dry skin with the task of restoring and maintaining the skin's moisture levels and increasing its elasticity. The agents responsible for this positive activity are carotenoids, mostly contained in the peel, which, with their antioxidant activity, tend to regenerate the horny layer of the skin (8).

Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

The most relevant studies and their abstracts have been selected to explore this in more depth:

Avocado studies

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1)  Dreher ML, Davenport AJ. Hass avocado composition and potential health effects. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2013;53(7):738-50. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2011.556759. PMID: 23638933; PMCID: PMC3664913.

Abstract. Hass avocados, the most common commercial avocado cultivars in the world, contain a variety of essential nutrients and important phytochemicals. Although the official avocado serving is one-fifth of a fruit (30 g), according to NHANES analysis the average consumption is one-half an avocado (68 g), which provides a nutrient and phytochemical dense food consisting of the following: dietary fiber (4.6 g), total sugar (0.2 g), potassium (345 mg), sodium (5.5 mg), magnesium (19.5 mg), vitamin A (43 μg), vitamin C (6.0 mg), vitamin E (1.3 mg), vitamin K1 (14 μg), folate (60 mg), vitamin B-6 (0.2 mg), niacin (1.3 mg), pantothenic acid (1.0 mg), riboflavin (0.1 mg), choline (10 mg), lutein/zeaxanthin (185 μg), phytosterols (57 mg), and high-monounsaturated fatty acids (6.7 g) and 114 kcals or 1.7 kcal/g. The avocado oil consists of 71% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), 13% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and 16% saturated fatty acids (SFA), which helps to promote healthy blood lipid profiles and enhance the bioavailability of fat soluble vitamins and phytochemicals from the avocado or other fruits and vegetables, naturally low in fat, which are consumed with avocados. There are eight preliminary clinical studies showing that avocado consumption helps support cardiovascular health. Exploratory studies suggest that avocados may support weight management and healthy aging.

(2) Christiansen BA, Bhatti S, Goudarzi R, Emami S. Management of Osteoarthritis with Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiables. Cartilage. 2015 Jan;6(1):30-44. doi: 10.1177/1947603514554992. 

Abstract. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful and life-altering disease that severely limits the daily activity of millions of Americans, and is one of the most common causes of disability in the world. With obesity on the rise and the world's population living longer, the prevalence of OA is expected to increase dramatically in the coming decades, generating burdensome socioeconomic costs. This review summarizes current pharmaceutical, non-pharmaceutical, and prospective new treatments for OA, with primary focus on the dietary supplement Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiables (ASU). ASU modulates OA pathogenesis by inhibiting a number of molecules and pathways implicated in OA. Anticatabolic properties prevent cartilage degradation by inhibiting the release and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2,3,13) and increasing tissue inhibitors of these catabolic enzymes (TIMP-1). ASU also inhibits fibrinolysis by stimulating the expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1). Anabolic properties promote cartilage repair by stimulating collagen and aggrecan synthesis via inhibition of inflammatory cytokines such as IL1, IL6, IL8, TNF, ERK, and PGE2. Chondroprotective effects are mediated by correcting growth factor abnormalities, increasing TGFβ while decreasing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in synovial fluid. ASU also inhibits cholesterol absorption and endogenous cholesterol biosynthesis, which mediate reactive oxygen species pathology in chondrocytes. At the clinical level, ASU reduces pain and stiffness while improving joint function, resulting in decreased dependence on analgesics.

 Zborovskiĭ AB, Akhverdian IuR, Sivordova LE, Simakova ES, Zavodovskiĭ BV. Efficiency of unsaponifiable compounds of soya beans and avocado in health care personnel with osteoarthrosis in Volgograd.   Med Tr Prom Ekol. 2013;(2):41-4. Russian.

(3) Ortiz-Avila O, Sámano-García CA, Calderón-Cortés E, Pérez-Hernández IH, Mejía-Zepeda R, Rodríguez-Orozco AR, Saavedra-Molina A, Cortés-Rojo C. Dietary avocado oil supplementation attenuates the alterations induced by type I diabetes and oxidative stress in electron transfer at the complex II-complex III segment of the electron transport chain in rat kidney mitochondria.    J Bioenerg Biomembr. 2013 Jun;45(3):271-87. doi: 10.1007/s10863-013-9502-3.

(4) Henning SM, Yang J, Woo SL, Lee RP, Huang J, Rasmusen A, Carpenter CL, Thames G, Gilbuena I, Tseng CH, Heber D, Li Z.  Hass Avocado Inclusion in a Weight-Loss Diet Supported Weight Loss and Altered Gut Microbiota: A 12-Week Randomized, Parallel-Controlled Trial.   Curr Dev Nutr. 2019 Jun 12;3(8):nzz068. doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzz068.

(5) Simental-Mendía M, Sánchez-García A, Acosta-Olivo CA, Vilchez-Cavazos F, Osuna-Garate J, Peña-Martínez VM, Simental-Mendía LE. Efficacy and safety of avocado-soybean unsaponifiables for the treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.   Int J Rheum Dis. 2019 Sep;22(9):1607-1615. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.13658.

(6) Flores M, Saravia C, Vergara CE, Avila F, Valdés H, Ortiz-Viedma J. Avocado Oil: Characteristics, Properties, and Applications.    Molecules. 2019 Jun 10;24(11). pii: E2172. doi: 10.3390/molecules24112172.

(7) Dabas D, Elias RJ, Ziegler GR, Lambert JD. In Vitro Antioxidant and Cancer Inhibitory Activity of a Colored Avocado Seed Extract.   Int J Food Sci. 2019 Apr 24;2019:6509421. doi: 10.1155/2019/6509421.

(8) Ferreira SM, Falé Z, Santos L. Sustainability in Skin Care: Incorporation of Avocado Peel Extracts in Topical Formulations. Molecules. 2022 Mar 9;27(6):1782. doi: 10.3390/molecules27061782.