Skip to main content

Persea americana

  • Chapter
Medicinal Plants of the World

Abstract

Tree of the LAURACEAE family with straggling-ascending branches, usually up to about 15 meters high, sometimes much taller. Leaves spirally arranged, often clustered near the branch ends, narrowly to broadly elliptical or obovate, usually pointed at the tip, up to 20 cm long and over 15 cm broad, with well-developed petioles, glaucous beneath. Flowers in a much-branched compact panicle shorter than the leaves, greenish-yellow. Fruits variable in size and shape according to the variety, usually shiny and green or brownish when ripe, often pear-shaped, up to about 15 cm long; flesh soft, greenish or yellow, oily, surrounding one large loose round seed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Quisumbing, E. Medicinal plants of the Philippines.Tech Bull 16, Rep Philippines, Dept Agr Nat Resources, Manilla 1951; 1.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Garcia-Barriga, H. Flora Medicinal de Colombia. Volume 1. Universidad Nacional, Bogota, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Feng, P. C., L. J. Haynes, K. E. Magnus, J. R. Plimmer and H. S. A. Sherrat. Pharmacological screening of some West Indian Medicinal Plants.J Pharm Pharmacol1962; 14: 556–561.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hnatyszyn, O., P. Arenas, A. R. Moreno, R. V. D. Rondina and J. D. Coussio. Preliminary phytochemical study of Paraguayan medicinal plants. 1. Plants regulating fertility from medicinal folklore.Rev Soc Cient1974; 14: 23.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Tessman, G. Die Indianer Nordost Perus, Grundlegende Forschunger Fur Eine Systematischen, De Gruyter Co., Hamburg, Germany, 1930.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Girard, R. The medicine chest of the Chorti Indians.Bol Indigenista1947; 7(4): 347.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Watt, J. M. and M. G. BreyerBrandwijk. The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa. 2ndEd, E. S. Livingstone, Ltd., London, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Nogueira Prista, L. and A. Correia Alves. Phytochemical study of the leaves ofPersea americana. Garcia Orta1961; 9: 501.

    Google Scholar 

  9. De Oliveira, M. M., M. R. P. Sampaio, F. Simon, B. Gilbert and W. B. Mors. Antitumor activity of condensed flavonols.An Acad Brasil Cienc1972; 44:41.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Geissman, T. A. and H. F. K. Dittmar. A proanthocyanidin from avocado seed.Phytochemistry1965; 4: 359–368.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Willaman, J. J. and H. L. Li. Alkaloidbearing plants and their contained alkaloids, 1957–1968.Lloydia1970; 335; 1–286.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Adikaram, N. K. B., D. R. Ewing, A. M. Karunaratne and E. M. K Wijeratne. Antifungal compounds from immature avocado fruit peel.Phytochemistry1992; 31(1): 93–96.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ogunlana, E. O. and E. Ramstad. Investigation into the antibacterial actvities of local plants.Planta Med1975; 27: 354.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Ortiz De Montellano, B. Empirical Aztec medicine.Science1975; 188: 215–220.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Moreno, A. R. Two Hundred Sixty Eight Medicinal Plants Used to Regulate Fertility in Some Countries of South America, Unpublished (Stenciled) Review in Spanish, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Harwood, J. L. Fatty acid biosynthesis by avocado pear.Lipids1974; 9: 850

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Milborrow, B. V. The origin of the methyl groups of abscisic acid.Phytochemistry1975; 14: 2403.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Murakoshi, S., A. Isogai, C. F. Chang, T. Kamikado, A. Sakurai and S. Tamura. The effects of two components from avocado leaves(Persea americana)and related compounds on the growth of silkworm larvae, Bombyx mori.Nippon Oyo Dobutsu Konchu Gakkaishi1976; 20: 87.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Opdyke, D. L. J. Monographs on fragrance raw materials. Methyl chavicol.Food Cosmet Toxicol1976; 14: 601–603.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Brandao, M., M. Botelho and E. Krettli. Antimalarial experimental chemotherapy using natural products.Cienc Cult1985; 37(7): 1152–1163.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Sarer, E. and G. Kokdl. Investigation on avocado leaf oil.Ankara Univ Eczacilik Fak Derg1990; 20(1/2): 18–24.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. King, J. R. and R. J. Knight. Volatile components of the leaves of various avocado cultivars.J Agr Food Chem1992; 40(7): 1182–1185.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Merici, F., A. H. Merici, F. Yilmaz, G. Yunculer and O. Yunculer. Flavonoids of avocado(Persea americana)leaves.Acta Pharm Turc1992; 34(2): 61–63.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Yasukawa, K., A. Yamaguchi, J. Arita, S. Sakurai, A. Ikeda and M. Takido. Inhibitory effect of edible plant extracts on 12–0-tetradecanoylphorbol- 13-acetate-induced ear oedema in mice.Phytother Res1993; 7(2): 185–189.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Shopshire, C. M., E. Stauber and M. Arai. Evaluation of selected plants for acute toxicosis in budgerigars.J Amer Vet Assn1992; 200(7): 936–939.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Zamora-Martinez, M. C. and C. N. P. Pola. Medicinal plants used in some rural populations of Oaxaca, Puebla and Veracruz, Mexico.J Ethnopharmacol1992; 35(3) 229–257.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Lim-Sylianco, C. Y., J. A. Concha, A. P. Jocano and C. M. Lim. Antimutagenic effects of expressions from twelve medicinal plants.Philippine J Sci1986; 115(1): 23–30.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ponce-Macotela, M., I. Navarro Alegria, M. N. Martinez-Gordillo and R. Alvarez-Chacon. In vitro antigiardiasic activity of plant extracts.Rev Invest Clin1994; 46(5): 343–347.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Blanco, C., T. Carrillo, R. Castillo, J. Quiralte and M. Cuevas. Avocado hypersensitivity.Allergy1994; 49(6): 454–459.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Moraes, V. L. G., L. F. M. Santos, S. B. Castro, L. H. Loureiro, O. A. Lima et al. Inhibition of lymphocyte activation by extracts and fractions ofKalanchoe, Alternathera, PaulliniaandMikaniaspecies. Phytomedicine 1994; 1(3): 199–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Lavaud, F., A. Prevost, C. Cossart, L. Guerin, J. Bernard and S. Kochman. Allergy to latex, avocado pear, and Obanana. Evidence for a 30 KD antigen in immunoblotting.J Allergy Clin Immunol1995; 95(2): 557–564.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Latorre, D. L. and F. A. Latorre. Plants used by the Mexican Kickapoo Indians.Econ Bot1977;31: 340–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Arenas, P. and R. Moreno Azorero. Plants of common use in Paraguayan folk medicine for regulating fertility.Econ Bot1977; 31: 298–301.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Morton, J. F. Some folk medicine plants of Central American markets.Q J Crude Drug Res1977; 15: 165.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Anon. Final report of the safety assessment for avocado oil.J Environ Pathol Toxicol1980; 4: 93–103.

    Google Scholar 

  36. De A Ribeiro, R., F. Barros, M. Margarida, R. F. Melo, C. Muniz, S. Chieia, M. G. Wanderley, C. Gomes and G. Trolin. Acute diuretic effects in conscious rats produced by some medicinal plants used in the state of Sao Paulo, Brasil.J Ethnopharmacol1988; 24(1): 19–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Hargis, A. M., E. Stauber, S. Casteel and D. Eitner. Avocado(Persea americana)intoxication in caged birds.J Amer Vet Med Assoc1989; 194(1): 64–66.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Werman, M. J., S. Mokady and I. Neeman. Partial isolation and characterization of a new natural inhibitor of lysyl oxidase from avocado seed oil.J Agr Food Chem1990; 38(12): 2164–2168.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. De Souza, C. P., M. L. Lima De Azevedo, J. L. C. Lopes, J. Sarti, D. D. Santos Filho et al. Chemoprophylaxis of schistosomiasis. Molluscicidal activity of natural products.An Acad Brasil Cienc1984; 56(3): 333–338.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Werman, M. J., S. Mokady, M. E. Nimni and I. Neeman. The effect of various avocado oils on skin collagen metabolism.Conn Tiss Res1991; 26(1/2): 1–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Miwa, M., Z. L. Kong, K. Shinohara and M. Watanabee. Macrophage stimulating activity of foods.Agr Biol Chem1990: 54(7): 1863–1866.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Caceres, A., E. Jauregu, D. Herrera and H. Logemann. Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of dermatomucosal infections. 1. Screening of 38 plant extracts for anticandidal activity.J Ethnopharmacol1991; 33(3): 277–283.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Sarer, E. and G. Kokdil. Investigations on avocado leaf oil.Ankara Univ Eczacilik Fak Derg1990; 20(1/2): 18–24.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Anon. Avocado pear-MAO inhibitor interaction.Pharm Int1982; 3(4): 122.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Chang, C. F., A. Isogai, T. Kamikado, S. Murakoshi, A. Sakurai and S. Tamura. Isolation and structure elucidation of growth inhibitors for silkworm larvae from avocado leaves.Agr Biol Chem1975; 39: 1167–1168.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Ayensu, E. S. Medicinal plants of the West IndiesUnpublished Manuscript1978; 110pp.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Sardi, J. C. and O. A. Torres. Study on avocado(Persea americana)oil.Arch Bioquim Quim Farm1978; 20: 45–49.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Wilson III, C. W., P. E. Saw and S. Nagy. Analysis of monosacchardies in avocado by HPLC.Liq Chromatogr Anal Food Beverages1979; 1: 225–236.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Gupta, M. P., T. D. Arias, M. Correa and S. S. Lamba. Ethnopharmacognostic observations on Panamanian medicinal plants. Part 1.Q J Crude Drug Res1979; 17(3/4): 115–130.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Bick, R. C. and W. Sinchai. Alkaloids of the Lauraceae.Heterocycles1978; 9: 903–945.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Sussman, L. K. Herbal medicine on Mauritius.J Ethnopharmacol1980; 2(3): 259–278.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. De Oliviera, M. M., M. Santos, and A. C. Coni. Analgesic activity of dimeric proanthocyanidins -preliminary experiments.ARQ Inst Biol Sao Paulo1975; 42: 145–150.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Padmawinata, K. and E. Hoyaranda. The effect of juice ofAverrhoa carambolafruits and the aqueous extract ofPersea americanaleaves on rat blood pressure.Abstr 4th Asian Symp Med Plants Spices, Bangkok, Thailand. Sept. 15– 19,1980.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Gonzalez, J. Medicinal plants in Colombia.J Ethnopharmacol1980; 2(1): 43–47.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Medina, F. R. and R. Woodbury. Terrestrial plants molluscicidal to Lymnaeid hosts ofFasciliasis hepaticain Puerto Rico.J Agr Univ Puerto Rico1979; 63: 366–376.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Arnason, T., F. Uck, J. Lambert and R. Hebda. Maya medicinal plants of San Jose Succotz, Belize.J Ethnopharmacol1980; 2(4): 345–364.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Sciancalepore, V. and W. Dorbessan. Sterol composition of oil of avocado(Persea americana Mill.).Grasas Aceites (Seville)1982; 33: 273–275.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Hirai, N. and K. Koshimizu. A new conjugate of dihydrophaesic acid from avocado fruit.Agr Biol Chem1983; 47(2): 365–371.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Delaveau, P., P. Lallouette and A. M. Tessier. Stimulation of the phagocytic activity of reticuloendothelial system by plant drugs.Planta Med1980; 40: 49–54.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Bate-Smith, E. C. Phytochemistry of proanthocyanidins.Phytochemistry1975;14(4): 1107–1113.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Martinez, M. A. Medicinal plants used in a Totonac community of the Sierra Norte de Puebla. Tuzamapan de Galeana, Puebla, Mexico.J Ethnopharmacol1984; 11(2): 203–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Cosminsky, S. Knowledge of body concepts of Guatemala wives. Chapter 12. Anthropology of Human Birth, 1982; 233–252pp.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Browner, C. H. Plants used for reproductive health in Oaxaca, Mexico.Econ Bot1985; 39(4): 482–504.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. De Ribeiro, R., M. M. R. Fiuza De Melo, F. De Barros, C. Gomes and G. Trolin. Acute antihypertensive effect in conscious rats produced by some medicinal plants used in the state of Sao Paulo.J Ethnopharmacol1986; 15(3): 261–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Weniger, B., M. Rouzier, R. Daguilh, D. Henrys, J. H. Henrys and R. Anthon. Popular medicine of the Central Plateau of Haiti. 2. Ethnopharmacological inventory. JEthnopharmacol1986; 17(1): 13–30.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Koshimizu, K., H. Ohigashi, H. Tokuda, A. Kondo and K. Yamaguchi. Screening of edible plants against possible anti-tumor promoting activity.Cancer Lett1988 39(3) 247–257

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Ramirez, V. R., L. J. Mostacero, A. E. Garcia, C. F. Mejia, P. F. Pelaez, C. D. Medina and C. H. Miranda. Vegetales empleados en medicina tradicional Norperuana.Banco Agrario Del Peru & NACL Univ Trujillo, Peru, June 1988; 54pp.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Gonzalez, F and M. Silva. A survey of plants with antifertility properties described in the South American folk medicine.Abstr Princess Congress 1Thailand, Dec. 1987; 20pp.

    Google Scholar 

  69. Darias, V., L. Brando, R. Rabanal, C. Sanchez Mateo, R. M. Gonzalez Luis and A. M. Hernandez Perez. New contribution to the ethnopharmacological study of the Canary Islands.J Ethnopharmacol1989; 25(1): 77–92.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Silva, M. J. M., M. Pinheiro de Sousa and M. Z. Rouquayrol. Molluscicidal activity of plants from Northeastern Brazil.Rev Brasil Farm1971; 52: 117–123.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Neeman, I., A. Lifshitz and Y. Kashman. New antibacterial agent iso- lated from the avocado pear.Appl Microbiol1970; 19: 470–473.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Logan, M. H. Digestive disorders and plant medicine in Highland Guatemala.Anthropos1973; 68: 537–543.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Simpson, G. E. Folk medicine in Trinidad.J Amer Folklore1962; 75: 326–340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Asprey, G. F. and P. Thornton. Medicinal plants of Jamaica. III.West Indian Med J1955; 4: 69–82.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Gallo, P. and H. Valeri. The antibiotic activity of the seed of avocado pear(Persea americana). Rev Med Vet Parasitol1953; 12: 125–129.

    Google Scholar 

  76. Dragendorff, G. Die Heilpflanzen der Verschiedenen Volker und Zeiten, F. Enke, Stuttgart, Book 1898; 885pp.

    Google Scholar 

  77. Roig Y Mesa, J. T. Plantas Medicinales, Aromaticas o Venenosas de Cuba. Ministerio De Agricultura, Republica De Cuba, Havana, 1945; 872pp.

    Google Scholar 

  78. Pinheiro de Sousa, M. and M. Z. Rouquayrol. Molluscicidal activity of plants from Northeast Brazil.Rev Bras Fpesq Med Biol1974; 7(4): 389–394.

    Google Scholar 

  79. Gazit, S. and A. Blumenfeld. Inhibitor and auxin activity in the avocado fruit.Physiol Plant1972; 27: 77–82.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Thompson, K. S., D. Jacques, t. Haslam and R. J. N. Tanner. Plant proanthocyanidins. Part 1. Introduction: The isolation, structure and distribution in nature of plant procyanidins.J Chem Soc Perkin Trans I1972: 1387–1399.

    Google Scholar 

  81. Appelboom, T., J. Schuermans, G. Verbruggen, Y. Henrotin and J. Y. Reginster. Symptoms modifying effect of avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) in knee osteoarthritis. A double blind, prospective, placebo-controlled study.Scand J Rheumatol2001; 30(4): 242–247.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  82. Hashimura, H., C. Ueda, J. Kawabata and T. Kasai. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitors from avocado(Persea amer-canaMill) fruits.Biosci Biotechnol Biochem2001; 65(7): 1656–1658.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  83. Kawagish, H., Y. Fukumoto, M. Hatakeyama, P. He, H. Arimoto, T. Matsuzawa, Y Arimoto, H. Suganuma, T. Inakuma and K. Sugiyama. Liver injury suppressing compounds from avocado(Persea americana). J Agri Food Chem2001; 49(5): 2215–2221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  84. Caballero-George, C., P. M. Vanderheyden, P. N. Solis, L. Pieters, A. A. Shahat, M. P. Gupta, G. Vauquelin and A. J. Vlietinck. Biological screening of selected medicinal Panamanian plants by radioligand-binding techniques.Phytomedicine2001; 8(1): 59–70.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  85. Kim, O. K., A. Murakami, D. Takahashi, Y. Nakamura, K. Torikai, H. W. Kim and H. Ohigashi. An avocado constituent, persenone A, suppressed expression of inducible forms of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase in macrophages, and hydrogen peroxide generation in mouse skin.Biosci Biotechnol Biochem2000; 64(11): 2504–2507.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  86. Domergue, F., G. L. Helms, D. Prusky and J. Browse. Antifungal compounds from idioblast cells isolated from avocado fruits.Phytochemistry2000; 54(2): 183–189.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  87. Kim, O. K., A. Murakami, Y. Nakamura, N. Takeda, H. Yoshizumi and H. Ohigashi. Novel nitric oxide and superoxide generation inhibitors, persenone A and B, from avocado fruit.J Agric Food Chem2000; 48(5): 1557–1563.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ross, I.A. (2003). Persea americana. In: Medicinal Plants of the World. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-365-1_21

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-365-1_21

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-469-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-365-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics