Table 3.

Experimental studies on the biological effects of avocado.

Animal Model	Protocol Used	Conclusions	Ref.
Male Wistar rats	Daily administration of 1.0 mL/250 g of avocado oil by gavage or losartan at 40 mg/kg for 45 days.	(a) Avocado oil mimics the effects of losartan. (b) Effects of avocado oil could be mediated by decreased actions of Angiotensin-II in mitochondria. (c) The intake of avocado oil could mitigate the harmful effects of hypertension in kidneys.	[74]
Diabetic male rats Goto-Kakizaki; the control rats were Wistar males.	Daily administration of avocado oil was 1 mL/250 g of weight for a period of 3, 6 and 12 months to Winstar and Goto-Kakizaki rats.	In the brain: (a) Improvement of mitochondrial function. (b) Decreased levels of free radicals and lipid peroxidation. (c) Improvement of the reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio. (d) Prevention of mitochondrial dysfunction.	[66]
In vitro (Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts/V79 cells) and in vivo models (Swiss mice).	Swiss mice were given avocado oil in different concentrations of 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg in an in vivo model. In vitro model was applied to different concentrations of avocado oil: 100, 200 and 400 μg/mL.	(a) Avocado pulp oil has no genotoxic effects. (b) The oil was effective in reducing the chromosomal damage induced by methyl methanesulfonate and doxorubicin. However, an increase in hepatic enzyme aspartate aminotransferase was found to be a marker of liver damage.	[77]
Wistar rats	Administration of a diet with different concentrations of avocado oil to insulin resistant rats.	(a) The dietary addition of 5–20% avocado oil can reduce glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, induced by the high sucrose diet, in Wistar rats. (b) The addition of 5–30% avocado oil reduced the body weight gain induced by the high sucrose diet in Wistar rats.	[75]
Male Wistar rats	Administration of avocado oil (1 g/250 g weight) to diabetic rats for 90 days.	In the liver: (a) Promoted an improvement in the functionality of the electron transport chain. (b) Decreased the generation of free radicals. (c) Diminished the harmful effects of oxidative stress in the liver.	[65]
Male Wistar rats	Diet supplemented with avocado oil to rats exposed to prolonged androgenic stimulation.	Avocado oil exerted a direct regulatory effect on the lipid profile.	[76]
Wistar rats	Administration of a diet with olive oil and avocado oil to rats exposed to a diet rich in sucrose.	In the liver: (a) A diet high in sucrose causes hepatic impairment, partially reversible by the administration of avocado oil, which does not occur at the pancreatic level. (b) Avocado oil (independent of its extraction method) exhibits effects similar to those of olive oil in the fatty acid profile.	[5]
Wistar rats	Administration of a diet with olive oil and avocado oil to rats exposed to a diet rich in sucrose.	At the cardiovascular level: In rats fed with sucrose, it was observed that avocado oil reduces the levels of triglycerides, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), without affecting the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). It also reduces the level of ultrasensitive CRP, indicating that the inflammatory processes associated with metabolic syndrome are partially reestablished.	[4]
Male Wistar rats	Avocado oil administration: 1 mL of avocado oil/250 g of weight daily for a period of 90 days.	At the renal level: (a) Protection against induced oxidative stress. (b) ROS generation decrease. (c) Improvement of the activities of complexes II and III. (d) Lower peroxidizability index in diabetic mitocondria.	[67]
Male Wistar rats	The control group received a laboratory pellet, while the treated group received a diet rich in 10% avocado oil (weight/weight) for a period of two weeks.	The administration of a diet rich in avocado oil to rats for two weeks modifies the content of fatty acids in cardiac and renal membranes.	[73]
Male rabbits of the New Zealand White strain.	Rabbits were fed a semi-purified diet containing 0.2% cholesterol and 14% oil for 90 days (corn, coconut, olive and avocado).	The atherogenic power of avocado oil is equivalent to that of olive oil and lower than that of corn and coconut oil.	[72]
Female rats and chicks.	Rats and chicks were fed 10% avocado oil (w/w).	Rats and chickens fed unrefined avocado oil showed a significant decrease in total collagen solubility in the liver.	[68]
Charles river female rats.	Growing rats were fed for eight weeks with 10% (w/w) refined or unrefined avocado oil or soybean oil, using different extraction media.	Rats fed with unrefined avocado oil extracted with hexane from intact fruit (unsaponifiables) or avocado seed oil showed significant increases in the content of soluble collagen in the skin, although the total collagen content was not affected. Rats fed refined or unrefined soybean oils showed no effects.	[70]
Charles river female rats.	The rats were fed diets containing 10% avocado oil (w/w) for four weeks.	The consumption of avocado oil extracted from intact fruits can cause changes in metabolism in the liver. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity increased in rats fed seed oil, oil extracted with unrefined solvent of intact fruit or unsaponifiables, and aspartate aminotransferase activity increased significantly in the group fed avocado seed oil.	[69]
Rats	Application of oil mixtures in the skin of the dorsal area of rats for 15 days, treatment with a mixture of 2/3 of soybean oil and 1/3 avocado in a 5% solution of sweet almond oil.	The mixture of soybean and avocado oils decreases the degree of collagen cross-linking, delaying wound healing.	[71]