Chemical composition, toxicity and larvicidal and antifungal activities of Persea americana (avocado) seed extracts

Abstract

The present study had the aim of testing the hexane and methanol extracts of avocado seeds, in order to determine their toxicity towards Artemia salina, evaluate their larvicidal activity towards Aedes aegypti and investigate their in vitro antifungal potential against strains of Candida spp, Cryptococcus neoformans and Malassezia pachydermatis through the microdilution technique. In toxicity tests on Artemia salina, the hexane and methanol extracts from avocado seeds showed LC 50 values of 2.37 and 24.13mg mL -1 respectively. Against Aedes aegypti larvae, the LC 50 results obtained were 16.7mg mL -1 for hexane extract and 8.87mg mL -1 for methanol extract from avocado seeds. The extracts tested were also active against all the yeast strains tested in vitro, with differing results such that the minimum inhibitory concentration of the hexane extract ranged from 0.625 to 1.25mg L-1 , from 0.312 to 0.625mg mL -1 and from 0.031 to 0.625mg mL -1 , for the strains of Candida spp, Cryptococcus neoformans and Malassezia pachydermatis, respectively. The minimal inhibitory concentration for the methanol extract ranged from 0.125 to 0.625mg mL -1 , from 0.08 to 0.156mg mL -1 and from 0.312 to 0.625mg mL -1 , for the strains of Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans and Malassezia pachydermatis, respectively. Key-words: Avocado seeds. Artemia salina. Aedes aegypti. Yeasts. RESUMOO presente estudo teve como objetivo testar os extratos hexânico e metanólico das sementes do abacate, a fim de determinar sua toxicidade em Artemia salina, avaliar a atividade larvicida frente ao Aedes aegypti, bem como verificar o potencial antifúngico in vitro contra cepas de Candida spp, Cryptococcus neoformans e Malassezia pachydermatis, através da técnica de microdiluição. Os extratos hexânico e metanólico das sementes de abacate apresentaram no teste de toxicidade frente à Artemia salina, valores de LC 50 2,37 e 24,13mg L -1 , respectivamente; contra as larvas do Aedes aegypti os resultados obtidos foram LC 50 16,7mg L -1 para o extrato hexânico e 8,87mg L -1 para o extrato metanólico das sementes do abacate. Os extratos testados também foram ativos contra todas as cepas de leveduras, testadas in vitro, apresentando diferentes resultados, onde o MIC do extrato hexânico variou de 0,625 a 1,25mg mL -1 , de 0,312 a 0,625mg mL -1 e de 0,031 a 0,625mg mL -1 para as cepas de Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans e Malassezia pachydermatis, respectivamente. O intervalo de MIC para o extrato metanólico foi de 0,125 a 0,625mg mL -1 , 0,08 a 0,156mg mL -1 e de 0,312 a 0,625mg mL -1 , para as exemplares de Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans e Malassezia pachydermatis, respectivamente. Palavras-chaves: Sementes do abacate. Artemia salina. Aedes aegypti. Leveduras.Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae) is a plant from Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, Antilles), but it has shown easy adaptation to other tropical regions. Its fruits are commonly known as avocados and have an olive-green peel and thick pale yellow pulp that is rich in vegetable oils...

Chemical composition and bioactive compounds of grape pomace (Vitis vinifera L.), Benitaka variety, grown in the semiarid region of Northeast Brazil

“…Although not specific, this method has a good correlation with tumor cells and pesticidal activity (Leite et al, 2009). This bioassay allows the evaluation of overall toxicity, and therefore it is considered the preliminary study of compounds with potential biological activity.…”

“…Nascimento et al (2008) studied toxicity in three species of medicinal plants of the genus Phyllanthus and reported absence of toxicity only in the species P.amarus. Leite et al (2009) found that hexane waste. Anthocyanin pigments are present in the grape skin, and their levels may vary from 30 to 750 mg/100g fruit, in agreement with the values found in this study (Bridle & Timberlake , 1997).…”

Cytotoxic Activity of Avocado Seeds Extracts (Persea Americana Mill.) on T47d Cell Lines

“…One of the experiment 1 showed that avocado seeds were toxic to the method of Brine Shrimp Lethality Test/BST (LC 50 below 1000 ug/ml). Based on the results of previous studies 2,3 , LC 50 values obtained from the avocado seeds extract was less than 1000 mg/L. This value indicated that the avocado seeds were toxic.…”

Atividade Inibitória De Óleos Essenciais Vegetais Frente À Candida Glabrata, Resistente a Fluconazol

“…Frações hexânica, etanóicae metanólica do óleo de abacate não demonstraram efeito antimicrobiano frente a cepas de C. albicans(ATCC 10231) 17 . No entanto, outros resultados publicados determinam atividade antimicrobiana das frações metanólica e hexânica do extrato da semente de abacate 23 . O efeito antifúngico do óleo essencial de C. cassiae C. winterianusfoi determinado em alguns estudos, em cepas bacterianas ou fúngicas 24,25 , no entanto existem diferenças em relação aos valores médios dos halos de inibição, quando da avaliação em meio sólido.Os valores encontrados no presente estudo são inferiores àqueles encontrados em estudo previamente realizado, o qual determina valores, médios de halos de inibição de 35 mm, entretanto frente a C. albicans 25 .…”