Isolation and chemical identification of lipid derivatives from avocado (Persea americana) pulp with antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities

Abstract

Platelets play a pivotal role in physiological hemostasis. However, in coronary arteries damaged by atherosclerosis, enhanced platelet aggregation, with subsequent thrombus formation, is a precipitating factor in acute ischemic events. Avocado pulp (Persea americana) is a good source of bioactive compounds, and its inclusion in the diet as a source of fatty acid has been related to reduced platelet aggregability. Nevertheless, constituents of avocado pulp with antiplatelet activity remain unknown. The present study aims to characterize the chemical nature of avocado constituents with inhibitory effects on platelet aggregation. Centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) was used as a fractionation and purification tool, guided by an in vitro adenosine diphosphate (ADP), arachidonic acid or collagen-platelet aggregation assay. Antiplatelet activity was initially linked to seven acetogenins that were further purified, and their dose-dependent effects in the presence of various agonists were contrasted. This process led to the identification of Persenone-C (3) as the most potent antiplatelet acetogenin (IC₅₀=3.4 mM) among the evaluated compounds. In vivo evaluations with Persenone A (4) demonstrated potential protective effects against arterial thrombosis (25 mg kg⁻¹ of body weight), as coagulation times increased (2-fold with respect to the vehicle) and thrombus formation was attenuated (71% versus vehicle). From these results, avocado may be referred to as a functional food containing acetogenin compounds that inhibit platelet aggregation with a potential preventive effect on thrombus formation, such as those that occur in ischaemic diseases.

Fruits for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

“…In fact, the lipophilic extract of the fruit had higher antioxidant capacity than its hydrophilic extract [83]. A study indicated that avocado pulp, containing acetogenin compounds, inhibited platelet aggregation with a potential preventive effect on thrombus formation [84]. Moreover, avocado pulp contains variable oil contents and is widely used in many fields such as the pharmaceutical industry [82].…”

Fruit quality in Hass avocado and its relationships with different growing areas under tropical zones

“…The main reason for the increase in planted area with avocado is based on the growth of the international demand. This phenomenon is a consequence of the multiple health benefits consumers perceive in this fruit, in addition to its pleasant flavor (Pérez-Méndez & García-Hernández, 2007;Rodriguez-Sanchez et al 2015;Monika & Geetha, 2015).…”

Inhibitory Activity of Avocado Seed Fatty Acid Derivatives (Acetogenins) Against Listeria Monocytogenes

“…Our research group has purified and studied acetogenins, naturally occurring lipidic molecules from avocado fruit, which show a wide range of bioactivities including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiplatelet, and antithrombotic (Hernández‐Brenes and others ; Rodríguez‐Sánchez and others, , , ). Two new structures were reported (Rodríguez‐Sánchez and others ) and, recently, two putative acetogenins were identified in a study with 22 avocado cultivars (Rodríguez‐López and others ), extending the acetogenin pool to eight molecules.…”