Avocado oil characteristics of Mexican creole genotypes

Mexico is a major avocado producer and exporter, mainly the Hass variety, while the Mexican creole genotypes remain unexplored. We investigated the physicochemical characteristics, phenolics, and bioactivity of oils from six different Mexican avocado genotypes to increase their consumption and utilization. Oil content varied significantly among Mexican genotypes and increased linearly with dry matter content. Oils from Mexican creole genotypes varied significantly in UV absorbance and generally exhibited low secondary oxidation. Avocado oil displayed two intense fluorescence peaks at 675 and 720 nm (chlorophyll concentration) and two broad bands centered at 465 and 510 nm (oxidation products). The antioxidant activity of avocado oils was independent of total phenolic content and influenced the anti-inflammatory (COX) activity and selectivity. Three thermal structural transitions occurred in avocado oils between −30 and 20°C. Thermal oxidation by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that avocado oils from Mexican genotypes exhibited higher thermal stability than those of Hass. Multivariate data analysis performed on 18 oil characteristics using principal component and cluster analysis demonstrates that fluorescence emission was the major factor segregating Mexican avocado genotypes. Mexican creole avocado is an important beneficial resource for the diversity of its oil quality compared to Hass variety. Practical applications: Mexican creole avocado oil exhibited superior distinctive physicochemical characteristics than Hass avocado variety. The fluorescence emission can be considered as the predictive attribute to characterize and identify the oil quality and distinguish creole avocado genotypes. Avocado oil from creole genotypes could be an important option to add value to these crop resources, ignored by their delicate post-harvest management. Cold press avocado oil from creole genotypes provides a distinctive regional origin denomination of gourmet oil, enabling to break its confines by post-harvest management, simultaneously conserving the huge genetic diversity of this valuable crop. Mexican creole avocado oils exhibit superior physicochemical characteristics than Hass. Fluorescence emission effectively segregates avocado oil quality by genotypes.