Sustainable recovery of valuable compounds from agro-industrial residues is gaining momentum as a strategy to reduce environmental impact and unlock novel bioactive sources. In this study, we present an eco-friendly separation approach to isolate, quantify, and evaluate compounds from avocado (Persea americana) by-products. This work highlights the use of green extraction and spectroscopic techniques to enable waste valorization aligned with circular economy principles.
Organically grown avocado peels and seeds were processed using a modified green lipid extraction protocol, enabling the separation of total lipophilic content (TLC) and total amphiphilic content (TAC). Total phenolic content (TPC), total carotenoid content (TCC), and antioxidant activity were assessed using UV–Vis spectroscopy coupled with DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, and their anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic potency in human platelets was also evaluated. Structural characterization of amphiphilic bioactives was performed via Attenuated Total Reflectance–Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR–FTIR) spectroscopy.
TAC fractions displayed significantly higher phenolic content and superior antioxidant activity across all assays, with the DPPH test indicating the strongest radical-scavenging capacity. TLC fractions were richer in carotenoids but demonstrated lower overall antioxidant potential. ATR–FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of flavonoids, phenolic acids, polar lipids, and conjugated systems indicative of bioactivity. Spectral evidence also suggested applications in UV-protective formulations. The presence of bioactive PLs enriched in UFAs within the TAC extracts derived from avocado juice and its by-products may account for the strong anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties observed. These avocado TAC extracts appear to act effectively against thrombo-inflammatory mediators such as platelet-activating factor (PAF), as well as standard platelet agonists like ADP, highlighting their potential as promising agents in thrombo-inflammatory modulation.
This study illustrates the potential of green separation strategies for efficient isolation of functional bioactives from food waste, supporting innovation in clean-label product development across food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic sectors.
