Bioaccessibility of avocado polyhydroxylated fatty alcohols

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Mitochondrial Metabolism
• Dietary Bioavailability

Background:

• Avocado-derived polyhydroxylated fatty alcohols (PFAs), including avocadene and avocadyne, are recognized for their potential to modulate mitochondrial metabolism.
• These compounds have demonstrated selective leukemia cell death induction and reversal of diet-induced obesity pathologies.
• The bioaccessibility of these specific PFAs from avocado pulp has not been previously reported.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the bioaccessibility of avocadene and avocadyne from avocado pulp.
• To compare the bioaccessibility of these PFAs from avocado pulp versus a formulated microemulsion.
• To assess the potential of avocado as a dietary source for these bioactive compounds.

Main Methods:

• In vitro digestion models, including the TNO dynamic intestinal model-1 (TIM-1) and static digestion, were employed.
• Lyophilized Hass avocado pulp powder was subjected to digestion to assess PFA release.
• Pure avocadene and avocadyne (avocatin B) formulated in an oil-in-water microemulsion were also digested using TIM-1.

Main Results:

• Lipolytic gastrointestinal enzymes facilitated appreciable bioaccessibility of avocadene (55%) and avocadyne (50%) from avocado pulp powder.
• The microemulsion formulation of avocatin B exhibited approximately 15% higher bioaccessibility compared to avocado pulp powder.
• Both avocado pulp and the microemulsion formulation demonstrate potential as dietary sources of avocado PFAs.

Conclusions:

• Avocado-derived PFAs, avocadene and avocadyne, are bioaccessible from avocado pulp through in vitro digestion.
• Formulating these PFAs in a microemulsion can enhance their bioaccessibility.
• This research highlights the nutritional significance of dietary long-chain fatty alcohols and warrants further investigation.