Proximate, Functional, Antinutrient and Antimicrobial Properties of Avocado Pear (Persea americana) Seeds

Abstract

The proximate, functional, antinutrient and antimicrobial properties of avocado pear (Persea americana) seeds were studied using standard methods. The proximate contents (%) of avocado peat seed flour, ASF, in decreasing order were moisture (13.09±0.14) followed by ash (3.82±0.00), fibre (2.87±0.00), protein (2.64±0.01) and fat (0.33±0.00). The energy value, carbohydrate and dry matter content respectively was 334.01±1.05%, 80.12±0.15% and 86.91±0.14% while the water absorption capacity and oil absorption capacity respectively was 2.70±0.00% and 1.80±0.00%. The anti-nutrients (mg/100g) in decreasing order were saponins (8.10±0.01) followed by alkaloids (2.14±0.00), flavonoids (1.81±0.01), tannins (1.14±0.01), cyanogenic glycosides (1.02±0.00) and phenols (0.29±0.01). The avocado pear seed extract (ASE) elicited antibacterial activity (mm) against Proteus mirabilis (23±0.14), Staphylococcus aureus (16±0.04) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15±0.11) though lower than the corresponding activity by the standard, Ciprofloxacin. ASE had higher activity (18±0.31mm) against the fungus, Aspergilus niger compared with the standard antifungal, Ketoconazole (8±0.22mm) while it had a comparable activity as the standard against Candida albicans but no activity against Penicillum notatum in contrast to the standard drug (6±0.24mm). Thus, ASF had appreciable nutrient and antinutrient contents with apparently moderate storage value while, out of the tested pathogens, ASE had a broad spectrum antibacterial activity, a selective antifungal activity and an overriding activity against Aspergilus niger. These while highlighting possible diet and drug potentials of ASF and ASE, respectively, provided basis for ethno-medicinal applications of avocado pear seeds, hence warranting further studies.