Pharmacognstic evaluations of Persea americana mill

Abstract

The ripe Persea Americana or avocado fruits consists of the hard peel, the pulp with a butter-like consistency and a peculiar nutty flavour, and the seed. The fruit is eaten as salad flavoured with pepper, salt or sugar. It is also used in soups and ice-cream. Avocado oil obtained by pressing the dried pulp, has a heavy consistency, a week odour and a taste reminiscent of hazelnuts. It commands high price and is valued for use in cosmetic preparations and as a high grade salad oil. It is also used in superior quality soaps and in pharmaceuticals. The meal left after the extraction of oil from the pulp is also used as an animal feed or as manure. In the present study the parameters viz., physicochemical, Organoleptic, TLC and Microbial limit tests are studied to standardise this plant by pharmacognosy.