Phenolic profile, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial properties of avocado (Persea americana) seed extracts.

The metabolic profiles of seed extracts from two cultivars of avocado (Hass var. and Criollo var., thereafter Hass and Criollo) were obtained using FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopies. The extracts can be regarded as a rich source of bioactive compounds with significant antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The extraction yields was 25.5% for Hass and 17.5% for Criollo. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were higher for Hass (287.41 ± 1.36 mg GAE/g dry extract and 1329.48 ± 6.89 μmol Fe + 2/g dry seed) as compared to Criollo (207.01 ± 1.38 mg GAE/g dry extract and 1276.18 ± 6.4 μmol Fe + 2/g dry seed). Also, the composition of the extracts was determined by using UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. Eleven compounds were identified in both extracts, which included mainly phenolic acids, epicatechin derivatives and flavonoids. These compounds were correlated to the profiles obtained with FTIR and ¹H NMR. A higher inhibition growth of S. aureus was observed for Hass extracts. The results obtained here suggest that avocado seeds from Hass variant are a substantial source of bioactive compounds, which may have significant potential in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]