Avocado Fruit and Leaf Bioactive Phytochemicals and Cosmeceutical Applications: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The cosmeceutical industry has been blooming over the years, necessitating a demand for safe and effective options. Fruit bioactive compounds are reported as safe for human health and broadly effective alternatives with less adverse effects. Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is a tropical fruit rich in phytonutrients and lipid-soluble bioactive compounds. These compounds have been reported to have various potential health benefits, including improving skin health. This scoping review investigated the bioactive compounds of avocados that were reported to confer beneficial activities on the skin. Published data between August 1982 till February 2022 were extracted from Ovid Medline, Scopus, Pubmed, SciFinder and Web of Science. A total of 307 published articles were identified using the search terms, of which 31 full articles were reviewed and appraised in this synthesis. This comprehensive scoping review examined the cosmeceutical activities of bioactive phytochemicals found in avocado (Persea americana Mill.) outlining their mechanisms of action. The review highlighted the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-aging properties of avocado extracts. Acetone extracts, especially from seeds, showed the highest antioxidant capacity and were also effective in antimicrobial activities. Methanol extracts demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, bioactive compounds from avocados were found to enhance wound healing and anti-aging effects, such as increasing collagen production and improving skin hydration and elasticity. This scoping review provides a comprehensive collection of evidence and critically appraises recent literature on bioactive compounds of Avocado and extraction solvents and potential cosmeceutical applications.