ISSN: 2578-4986
Authors: Maduka Tochukwu DO*, Ikpa Chiyere BC and Kalu Georgina I
The use of Extracts from the seed of Persea americana Mill (Lauraceae) for ethnotherapy of diseases including cancer, hypertension, blood pressure regulation, diabetes etc, is on the increase in Nigeria, inadequate knowledge of the bioactive compounds in the seeds remains a challenge and this concern gave birth to the present study. In this study, the physicochemical properties and bioactive compounds of avocado seed were determined using standard tests and experiments. The analysis was done in three replicates. The yield of the oil was about (6.9±0.04) %, The results obtained for the physical properties of avocado pear are: Physical state (liquid), Odour (fruity), Colour (dark brown/ brownish red), pH (6.2±0.01), Relative density (0.945±0.02), Electrical conductivity (000uscm-1), Cloud point (8 ± 0.02 oC), Melting point (12 ± 0.02 0C), Smoke point (167± 0.05oC), Flash point (180± 0.02 oC), Fire point (241± 0.02 oC), the result of chemical properties of Avocado Pear seed oil assayed include: Acid value (11.78± 0.96 mgKOH/g), Free fatty acid (5.89± 0.96 mgKOH/g) , Peroxide value (43.00± 0.04 mgð‘‚2/Kg), Saponification (m231.41± 1.18gKOH/g). The physico-chemical characteristics of the oil show that it has industrial potentials. 8 major bioactive compounds were detected in the GCMS analysis and they include 2-aziridinyl-ethyl amine, Hydroxylurea, Epinephrine, Benzene ethanamine-3-flouro-β, 5 – dihroxyl-N-methyl, Dextroamphetamine, P,α-dimethylphenylethylamine, Cathine and 2-amino-1-propanol. Some of the compounds justify the use of the seed for some ethnomedical therapy. Furthermore, no toxic compound was detected from the analysis; but the inadequate knowledge on the concentration of the compounds present in theses seeds can pose serious health threat on consumers.
Keywords: Persea American; Free Fatty Acid; Diabetes; Benzene ethanamine-3-flouro-β
