Eating the forbidden fruit? Avocado consumption by neotropical birds at an urban garden.:

'Hass' avocado consumption is increasing due to its organoleptic properties, so it is necessary to develop new technologies to guarantee export quality. Avocado fruits do not ripen on the tree, and the visual classification of its maturity is not accurate. The most commonly used fruit maturity indicator is the percentage of dry matter (DM). The aim of this research was to investigate a non-destructive method with hyperspectral images to predict the percentage of DM of fruits across the spectral range of 400-1000 nm. No correlation between fruit weight and color with the percentage of DM was found in the study area. Cross-validation efficiency of different data sources, including the spectrum extraction zone (the center, a line from the peduncle to the base, and the whole fruit) and the average of one or two fruit faces, was compared. Four linear regression models were compared. Data of the whole fruit and average of both sides per fruit using a support vector machine regression were selected for the prediction test. Following the cross-validation concept, five sets of calibration and test data were selected and optimized for calibration. The best test prediction set comprised an R2 = 0.9, a root-mean-square error of 2.6 g kg-1 DM, a Pearson correlation of 0.95, and a ratio of prediction to deviation of 3.2. The results of the study indicate that hyperspectral images allow classifying export fruits and making harvesting decisions. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

The cultivation of fruits and vegetables, including avocados, has increased in recent years in Ethiopia. Among fruits, avocado has known as one of the healthiest fruits, is widely cultivated and available for consumption. The aim of the study was to assess the role and trends of avocado consumption and its role in the country’s agri-food systems and agro-processing. Survey conducted in selected avocado-producing districts in Ethiopia, specifically in Sidama, South Ethiopia, Amhara and Oromia Regions. The study employed a mixed research methodology using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected through household surveys, interviews and from secondary sources were collected and reviewed. The findings revealed that the average experience in avocado farming among the sampled smallholder farmers was 13.7 years, indicating significant expertise in avocado production and marketing. Regarding avocado consumption and marketing, a high proportion of farmers (87.6%) reported that their main motive for avocado production was for sale showing it is a cash crop. There was also an increase in avocado consumption patterns. Based on the FGD discussions and key informant interviews avocado fruit is processed into variety of recipes such as a sole or mixed juice, parts of salads, sandwiches, paste (served with variety of Ethiopian dishes such as Shiro, Alicha, Key Wot with Injera, <i>Firfir</i> with avocado, etc.). The fresh fruits have high agro-processing demands for oil production in Ethiopia for export. In addition, avocado oil is used as cooking oil, and as parts of cosmetics and beauty products. The study revealed that avocado is a nutritious dense food source that can contribute to improved health outcomes of the nation. On the other hand, varieties of recipes containing avocado fruits are being developed and used. Avocado is becoming key parts of food component in the daily consumption among growers. Likewise, the use of avocado in oil production and cosmetics agro-processing industry is increasing. Thus, promoting the consumption of diverse nutritious food avocado as a component would enhance national food and nutrition security and address micronutrient deficiencies. Improving the production and productivity of avocadoes would meet the high fresh consumptions, industry raw materials demand and fresh export foreign earning. Thus, any innovations at all stages (steps) in avocado value chain could help significantly the national avocado agri-food system and agro-processing industry development.

Effects of Avocado Consumption on Abdominal Adiposity and Glucose Tolerance: Findings from the Persea Americana for Total Health (PATH) Randomized Controlled Trial (P21-005-19)

Simple SummaryUrban birds have to cope with dominant stressors as anthropogenic noise and artificial light at night by adjusting their song traits. However, evidence of such adjustments has been studied thus far in temperate cities, rather than tropical cities. Here, I tested whether noise and light pollution influence earlier singing behavior in a tropical bird, the Saffron Finch. Birds in highly urbanized sites sang earlier at dawn and this timing difference was driven by light pollution instead of anthropogenic noise. Overall, these results suggest that light pollution could have a detrimental impact on the circadian rhythms of urban tropical birds such as daily singing routines.Anthropogenic noise and artificial light at night (ALAN) can disrupt the morning singing routines of urban birds, however, its influence on tropical species remains poorly explored. Here, I assessed the association between light and noise pollution with the dawn chorus onset of the Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) in a city in Colombia. I studied 32 sites comprised of different conditions of urban development based on built cover. I recorded the time of the first song of the Saffron Finch, the conspecific density and measured anthropogenic noise and ALAN using smartphone apps. The findings of this study show that Saffron Finches living in highly developed sites sang earlier at dawn than those occupying less urbanized sites. Unexpectedly, this timing difference was related to ALAN instead of anthropogenic noise, suggesting that light pollution could drive earlier dawn chorus in a tropical urban bird. Saffron Finches could take advantage of earlier singing for signaling territorial ownership among neighbors. Future studies need to assess the influence of ALAN on the dawn chorus timing of Neotropical urban birds.

Persea americana is much sought after both for the nutritional value of its fruit and the medicinal values of its various plant parts. A chromosomal aberration assay was undertaken to evaluate the potential genotoxicity of crude extracts from avocado fruits and leaves. Chromosomal aberrations were observed in cultured human peripheral lymphocytes exposed to separately increasing concentrations of 50% methanolic extracts of Persea americana fruit and leaves. The groups exposed to leaf and fruit extracts, respectively, showed a concentration-dependent increase in chromosomal aberrations as compared to that in a control group. The mean percentage total aberrant metaphases at 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg concentrations of leaf extract were found respectively to be 58 ± 7.05, 72 ± 6.41, and 78 ± 5.98, which were significantly higher (p < 0.0001 each) than that in the control group (6 ± 3.39). The mean percentage total aberrant metaphases at 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg concentrations of fruit extract were found to be 18 ± 5.49, 40 ± 10.00, and 52 ± 10.20, respectively, which were significantly higher (p = 0.033, p < 0.0001, and p < 0.0001, respectively) than that for control (6 ± 3.39). Acrocentric associations and premature centromeric separation were the two most common abnormalities observed in both the exposed groups. The group exposed to leaf extracts also showed a significant number of a variety of other structural aberrations, including breaks, fragments, dicentrics, terminal deletion, minutes, and Robertsonian translocations. The group exposed to leaf extract showed higher frequency of all types of aberrations at equal concentrations as compared to the group exposed to fruit extract.

A field experiment was conducted on the Andalusian coast (Granada, Southern Spain) to study the time course of nutrient release into the soil after the addition of bagged pruning waste from subtropical orchard trees (avocado, cherimoya, and mango) and urban garden waste over three two-year periods. N, P, and K concentrations were greater in the garden waste, whilst avocado and cherimoya pruning waste registered the highest values for Mg. In general, micronutrient contents were low in all waste, especially Cu. Macronutrient release followed a three-phase dynamic: fast initial release, intermediate stabilization, and final increase. Garden waste showed a similar time course in all three trees and released greater concentrations of K and P. The annual decomposition rate factor k was negative for N and Ca in the avocado tree, indicating strong biological activity in this plot. Avocado, cherimoya, and garden waste showed a good microbial degradation, improving soil quality by increasing carbon and nitrogen contents as well as soil microbial activity. As for the mango tree, its special microclimatic conditions appeared to favor waste photodegradation, thus eliminating nutrients that were not incorporated into the soil. Soil enzymatic activities increased in the avocado and cherimoya trees with the addition of all waste. In the mango tree, only an increase in urease was detected after the addition of garden waste. Our results suggest that the time course of organic waste in different subtropical trees grown on similar soils is significantly conditioned by the microclimatic characteristics.

The purpose of this study was to determine the proximate composition and nutritional profile of ripe and unripe Persea americana (Mill) (avocado pears), grown in Imo State, Nigeria. The P. americana (Zutano variation) was purchased from Ihiagwa Market, Owerri West, Imo State, Nigeria. Some of the P. americana fruit was allowed to ripe within three days and the pulps were dried in the laboratory. Proximate composition (ash, crude protein, fat, fibre, total carbohydrate and moisture content) of both the ripe and unripe avocado pear were determined. Furthermore, the nutritional profile was established, including the levels of minerals (Ca and Mg) and vitamins (A, B3, B6, C, D, and K). From the findings, ash, crude protein, fat, fibre, total carbohydrate and moisture content for the unripe avocado pear were: 0.46, 2.73, 9.94, 4.90, 11.74, and 70.23 %, respectively, while the ripe sample were: 1.05, 2.99, 15.98, 4.43, 7.96, and 67.59 % respectively. The Mg and Ca in the ripe avocado were: 30.36 and 28.87 mg/kg respectively, while for unripe sample are: 16.47 and 15.42 mg/kg). The vitamin A, B3, B6, C, D, and K for the unripe sample were 10.05, 0.65, 0.24, 71.91, 5.46, and 2.70 mg/100g respectively, while the ripe avocado pear were 7.68, 0.44, 0.24, 65.69, 3.82, and 3.47 mg/100g respectively. In conclusion, ripe P. americana provides a rich source of nutritional benefits for magnesium, calcium, and/or lipids. Compared to ripe P. americana, the unripe variety is higher in moisture, fiber, vitamins B3, D, C, and A.

Persea americana Mill. (avocado fruit) has many health benefits when added to our diet due to various pharmacological activities, such as preventing bone loss and inflammation, modulating immune response and acting as an antioxidant. In the current study, the total ethanol extract (TEE) of the fruit was investigated for in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity via DPPH and cyclooxygenase enzyme inhibition. Biological evaluation of the antiarthritic effect of the fruit extract was further investigated in vivo using Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) arthritis model, where the average percentages of body weight change, inhibition of paw edema, basal paw diameter/weight and spleen index were estimated for all animal groups. Inflammatory mediators such as serum IL-6 and TNF-α were also determined, in addition to histopathological examination of the dissected limbs isolated from all experimental animals. Eighty-one metabolites belonging to different chemical classes were detected in the TEE of P. americana fruit via UPLC/HR-ESI–MS/MS. Two classes of lyso-glycerophospholipids; lyso-glycerophosphoethanolamines and lysoglycerophosphocholines were detected for the first time in avocado fruit in the positive mode. The TEE of fruit exhibited significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. In vivo anti-arthritic activity of the fruit TEE improved paw parameters, inflammatory mediators and spleen index. Histopathological findings showed marked improvements in the arthritic condition of the excised limbs. Therefore, avocado fruit could be proposed to be a powerful antioxidant and antiarthritic natural product.

Urban soils are recipients of a variety of pollutants, including the toxic heavy metals, which can accumulate in these soils. The consumption of vegetables and fruits grown in urban gardens with elevated heavy metal content may pose a health risk to residents, because the plants can absorb the heavy metals to different degrees depending on a number of factors (soil properties, forms of metals, plant specific factors, etc.). Total metal content and heavy metal fractions were determined using a sequential extraction procedure in the soils of urban vegetable gardens in order to assess both mobile and potentially mobile amounts of heavy metals in these soils. The heavy metal content of different vegetable types grown in these gardens and those soil properties relevant to controlling metal mobility were also investigated. Soil properties of the studied vegetable gardens influenced metal retention positively, but these soils were not heavily contaminated with metals. The high content of total Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd in the mobile and potentially mobile fractions did, however, indicate a possible anthropogenic enrichment of these metals. The vegetables grown in these gardens accumulated no toxic metal content but the concentration of Cu in the studied vegetables was generally higher than the mean Cu content of different plant foodstuffs, clearly indicating an anthropogenic impact on the Cu status of these soils. Based on the calculated bioaccumulation indices and in accordance with the result of the sequen- tial extraction, Zn and Cd were the most mobile ele- ments in the present soil-plant system.

Background: Few epidemiological data exist on the effects of the mode of consumption of avocado on diet quality, weight management, and lipoglycemic profile in diabetic condition and other metabolic disease risk factors. Objectives: This study investigated the metabolic, lipoglycemic, and anthropometric impacts of avocado fruit mesocarp intake and the implication of its mode of consumption on body weight gain, lipid profile, glycemic tolerance and control in male diabetic Wistar rats. Method: Twenty one (21) adult male Wistar rats (150-220g) were randomly categorized into three experimental groups (n = 7, each): Diabetic control fed with normal diet (DC); Diabetic rats fed with avocado supplemented diet (DSA); Diabetic rats treated with aqueous mesocarp extract of avocado (DAE). Diabetes was inducted with 150 mg/dL, alloxan monohydrate solution intraperitoneally. Animals were fed according to the experimental design with water ad libitum for six weeks. Body weights and fasting blood glucose (FBG) concentrations were measured twice weekly. LP and OGTT were conducted. Microsoft Excel and statistical SPSS program version 22 were used for data analysis. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM. Comparison between groups were made using Students’t-test and one way ANOVA. Results: Consumption of avocado mesocarp caused significant reduction in mean body weight gain (DSA: 13.75%; DAE: 10.17%; P value &lt; 0.05) and blood glucose concentrations (DSA: 9.48%; DAE: 21.0%; P = 0.002) with significant improvement in glycemic tolerance and lipid profile (DAE &gt; DSA) over the control. Peaked glycemic responses occurred at 30 minutes of glucose challenge in DSA and DAE groups. Conclusion: Avocado fruit mesocarp intake reduced body weight gain and blood sugar with improved lipid profile and glycemic tolerance in experimental diabetic rats while the mode of consumption influenced its potential impacts.

Fuel properties of avocado stone

Can avocado intake improve weight loss in adults with excess weight? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Poor consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with an increased risk of non-communicable diseases, micronutrient deficiency, and undernutrition. Fruit and vegetable consumption is generally low worldwide, particularly in rural regions of many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of zero vegetable or fruit consumption among children aged 6 to 23 months in Kenya using the most recent Kenya Demographic and Health Survey. A cross-sectional study was employed using data from the most recent nationally representative KDHS 2022. A weighted sample of 2,965 children aged between 6 to 23 months who were living with their mother was included in the study. Data extracted from the KDHS 2022 data sets were cleaned, recoded, and analyzed using STATA/SE version 14.0 statistical software. Multilevel logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with the dependent variable. Finally, variables with a p-value less than 0.05 were declared statistically significant. The proportion of zero vegetable or fruit consumption among children aged 6 to 23 months in Kenya was 45.50% (95% CI: 43.71%–47.30%). Factors like maternal education [AOR = 0.59; 95% CI (0.37, 0.93)], maternal occupation [AOR = 0.60; 95% CI (0.47, 0.76)], media exposure [AOR = 0.59; 95% CI (0.43, 0.80)], wealth index [AOR = 0.68; 95% CI (0.49, 0.95)], place of delivery [AOR = 0.69; 95% CI (0.51, 0.94)], number of ANC visits [AOR = 1.30; 95% CI (1.05, 1.62)], child’s age [AOR = 0.30; 95% CI (0.21, 0.41)], community media exposure [AOR = 0.30; 95% CI (0.21, 0.41)], community literacy [AOR = 0.29; 95% CI (0.20, 0.43)], and community poverty [AOR = 1.46; 95% CI (1.04, 2.05)] were significantly associated with zero vegetable or fruit consumption. Conclusion: The proportion of zero vegetable or fruit consumption among children aged 6 to 23 months in Kenya was high. Zero vegetable or fruit consumption was significantly associated with maternal education, maternal occupation, media exposure, wealth index, place of delivery, number of ANC visits, child’s age, community media exposure, community literacy, and community poverty. Giving attention to jobless, media-non-exposed mothers, poor wealth status, who gave birth at home, who had no formal education, attended < 4 ANC visits, and children aged 6 to 8 months is recommended.What is Known:• Dietary recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption were not met by many children in low and middle-income countries.What is New:• The proportion of zero vegetable or fruit consumption among children aged 6 to 23 months in Kenya was high.

The natural process of fruit ripening is a combination of physiological, biochemical and molecular processes which can be activated or accelerated artificially by using different chemical agents. This study was carried out to examine the effects of three ripening process on the quality of avocado and mango fruits. Freshly unripe mango and avocado fruits were treated with calcium carbide powder, kerosene fumes and ripening in woven polypropylene bags. Calcium carbide treated fruits were stored for 48 hrs and all the samples were fully ripened except avocado fruit. The kerosene fumed fruits were stored for 24 hrs and then exposed to open air for another 24 hrs. Fruits ripened in empty plastic rice got ripened within 4 and 5 days for mango and avocado, respectively. The fruits were then analyzed for their physicochemical properties and sulphide and sulphate distributions using standard methods. The result revealed a decrease in TTA, pH, carbohydrate and vitamin C contents on ripening. On the other hand, moisture and TSS was observed to increase. However, accelerated ripening had no significant (p&lt;0.05) effect on the moisture and vitamin C content of the fruits. Mango samples treated with calcium carbide recorded higher acidity (0.92%) and low pH (3.08) than those treated with kerosene (0.29% and 3.71%, respectively). Sulphide and sulphate distribution of avocado was found to increase after accelerated ripening with kerosene fumes. A decrease for sulphate (outer distribution) and increase for sulphate (inner) and sulphide (outer) was observed for mango fruits. The results also showed that ripening in woven polypropylene had no significant (p&lt;0.05) effect on the TTA of the fruits while pH, moisture and TSS varied significantly (p&lt;0.05) with fruit type. The use of calcium carbide for fruit ripening is not advisable.

Einleitung/Hintergrund: Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women worldwide. Studies in industrialised countries identified age at menarche, age at first full-term pregnancy, lactation and a high Body Mass Index as determining factors in the aetiology of breast cancer. Daten und Methoden: 115 female breast cancer patients (cases) and 230 age- and district-matched women clinically free from breast cancer (controls) were interviewed about their reproductive history and socioeconomic condition. Semi-structured interviews including anthropometric measurements were conducted by trained enumerators. A validated Food Frequency Questionnaire was used to assess the dietary intake. The logistic risk model included women's age, socioeconomic situation, age at menarche, age at first child, BMI, lifelong lactation and two sets of dietary patterns. The dietary patterns were obtained using principal component analysis with Varimax rotation. Ergebnisse: The adjusted logistic regression estimated an increased risk for a „Fatty Diet“, characterized by a higher consumption of milk, vegetable oils and fats, butter, lard, and red meat (OR=1.42, 95% CI 1.08–1.87; P=0.01), and for a „Fruity Diet“ characterized by a higher consumption of fish, mango, papaya, avocado, and watery fruits (OR=1.61, 95% CI 1.14–2.28; P=0.01). Both diets showed an inverse association with the ratio between polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids (P/S-ratio). After stratification into the body mass index groups <24kg/m2, 24–26kg/m2 and >26kg/m2 a risk association of any dietary pattern could only be confirmed for the Fatty Diet among women with a body mass index above 26kg/m2 (OR=1.69, 95% CI 1.01–2.82; P=0.05). Diskussion/Schlussfolgerungen: A diet with a low P/S ratio seems to be more important for the development of breast cancer than total fat intake. However, this risk association can be considered affirmed among women with a body mass index above 26kg/m2 only.