Scientific Names: Persea gratissima
Common names: Leafroller
Ayurvedic names: Avocada
Chinese names: Kamokamo
Bangladesh names: Kulanshpati
Arabic names: أفوكادو (Afocado)
Rain Forest names: alligator pear
Family: Lauraceae
Approximate Number of Species Known: 1,000
Common Parts Used: Fleshy part & the central seed
Collection:
Annual/Perennial: Annual
Height: Up to 70 feet
Actions: Promotes Cardiovascular Health, Provides Anti-Inflammatory Benefits & Regulates the Blood Sugar Level. Also provides Anti-Cancer benefits and supports nutrient absorption
Known Constituents:
Composition Of Avocado Varieties
| Variety | Water | Protein | Fat | Carbohydrates | Ash |
| % | % | % | % | % | |
| Trapp …. (West Indian) | 78.66 | 1.61 | 9.80 | 9.08 | 0.85 |
| Sharpless(Guatemalan) | 71.21 | 1.70 | 20.54 | 5.43 | 1.12 |
| Puebla …. (Mexican) | 63.32 | 1.80 | 26.68 | 6.64 | 1.56 |
| Fuerte …. (Hybrid) | 69.86 | 1.25 | 29.14 | 7.40 | 1.35 |
Constituents Explained:
Description:
Avocados are the fruit from Persea americana, a tall evergreen tree.
Native to Central America, it is cultivated mainly for its fruit in tropical and subtropical regions which include Israel, Spain, and South Africa.
Sometimes colloquially known as the Alligator Pear, reflecting its shape and the leather-like appearance of its skin.
Avocados vary in weight from 8 ounces to 3 pounds depending upon the variety.
Traditional Use:
The leaves and bark have long been used to treat diarrhea, gas, and bloating, as well as relieve coughs, liver obstructions, and clearing out uric acid, which causes gout.
The rind has been found to be useful in expelling worms avocados are primarily served as salad vegetables.
The fruit is used externally to soothe the skin, help heal wounds, and to stimulate hair growth. Consumption of the fruit is encouraged because of its essential fatty acids and protein.
Avocado oil is used in natural body lotions, organic face creams, natural moisturizers, natural hair care, treatment for dry hair, promote hair growth, massage oils, natural cosmetics and natural sunscreen.
Clinical Studies:
In a clinical study published in 1994 in “Diabetes Care,” researchers assigned to diabetic patients a diet high in monounsaturated fat that featured avocados; others in the study followed a diet high in complex carbohydrates. At the end of the testing period, researchers found that patients on the avocado diet experienced a larger drop in cholesterol and triglycerides — or fats in the blood — than patients following the complex carbohydrate diet. The team concluded that a diet featuring avocado can improve the lipid profile while maintaining adequate glycemic control.
Another clinical trial investigated the effects of avocado on cancer cells. The phytochemicals extracted from the avocado fruit were able to selectively put a halt to the cancer cell cycle by stopping growth and triggering death in precancerous and cancer cell lines. Not only that, avocado helped fortify the number of lymphocyte cells — those small white blood cells that play a big role in defending your body against disease.
Researchers at the Ohio State University have found that avocados can boost the amount of carotenoids you absorb from other foods that you eat. Healthy subjects were recruited for two (2) studies. The effect of avocado addition to salsa on lycopene and beta-carotene absorption was examined in Study 1, while the absorption of lutein, alpha-carotene, and beta-carotene was examined in Study 2. The research team found that the addition of avocado to salsa enhanced lycopene and beta-carotene absorption resulting in more than double the intake. In Study 2, supplementing 150 grams (g) of avocado or 24 g of avocado oil to salad similarly enhanced alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and lutein absorption an average of seven times that of avocado-free salad.
References:
Carol Sarao. “Is Eating Avocado Good for You When You Have High Cholesterol?” July 24, 2011. www.livestrong.com.
Richard Foxx, MD. “Why Avocado is Super Food.” February 8, 2012. www.doctorshealthpress.com
source material:
Herb Name: Avocado
Others names: Palka, Aguacate, Butter Pear, Alligator Pear
Latin name: Persea americana
Family: Lauraceae
Common part used: Fruit, Seed, Leaves
Description: Avocado is a green-skinned and pear-shaped fruit that grows on the Avocado trees. Avocados are native to South America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Properties: Avocado is an herb that is used in herbal medicine to treat high cholesterol levels, periodontitis, wounds and skin eruptions, toothache and headache, diarrhea, hemorrhage, and sore throat. Avocados possess truly significant health benefits.
Contents: Avocado is a rich source of lecithin, potassium, proteins, beta-carotene, vitamins A, D & E, and essential fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic, oleic, palmitic, and palmitoleic).
Internal use: Avocado fruit intake helps to decrease the levels of the LDL (bad cholesterol), and increase the levels of the HDL (good cholesterol) in the blood. The fruit has high levels of beneficial monounsaturated fat, which is markedly higher than most other fruits. Thus, avocado can also serve as a fat source for people whose diets exclude meats, fish, and diary (e.g., vegetarians).
External use: The fruit (and especially the skin of the fruit) contains natural antibacterial components. Antibacterial and antibiotic properties of Avocado found the following uses in different countries around the world: leaves are chewed as a remedy for periodontitis, Avocado paste is applied on wounds, and the oil extracted from the seeds is applied onto skin eruptions. Avocado is also used in rejuvenating facial creams. The fruit is also known to help toothache and headache. The leaf decoction (extraction obtained by boiling it down) is taken as a remedy for diarrhea, hemorrhage, and sore throat.
Essential oil and aromatherapy use: In aromatherapy, Avocado is often used as carrier oil, which is very beneficial for dry, damaged, and irritated skin.
Safety precautions: Not noted.