Hypolipidemic Effect of Avocado (Persea americana Mill) Seed in a Hypercholesterolemic Mouse Model

María Elena Pahua-Ramos, Alicia Ortiz-Moreno, Germán Chamorro-Cevallos, María Dolores Hernández-Navarro, Leticia Garduño-Siciliano, Hugo Necoechea-Mondragón, Marcela Hernández-Ortega

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

82 Scopus citations

Abstract

Avocado seed contains elevated levels of phenolic compounds and exhibits antioxidant properties. We investigated the effect of Avocado Seed Flour (ASF) on the lipid levels in mice on a hyperlipidemic diet. The concentration of phenols was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, antioxidant activity was evaluated using the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity method, and dietary fiber was measured using the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) method. The LD50 of ASF was determined using Lorke's method and hypolipidemic activity was evaluated in a hypercholesterolemic model in mice. Protocatechuic acid was the main phenolic compound found in ASF, followed by kaempferide and vanillic acid. The total phenolic content in the methanolic extract of ASF was 292. 00 ± 9. 81 mg gallic acid equivalents/g seed dry weight and the antioxidant activity resulted in 173. 3 μmol Trolox equivalents/g DW. In addition, a high content of dietary fiber was found (34. 8%). The oral LD50 for ASF was 1767 mg/kg body weight, and treatment with ASF significantly reduced the levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C, and prediction of the atherogenic index. Therefore, the antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds and dietary fiber in ASF may be responsible for the hypocholesterolemic activity of ASF in a hyperlipidemic model of mice.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)10-16
Number of pages7
JournalPlant Foods for Human Nutrition
Volume67
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2012

Keywords

  • Avocado
  • Dietary
  • Fiber
  • Hypolipidemic
  • Phenolic compounds
  • Seed

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Hypolipidemic Effect of Avocado (Persea americana Mill) Seed in a Hypercholesterolemic Mouse Model'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this