Avocado: characteristics, health benefits and uses/Abacate: caracteristicas, beneficios a saude e aplicacoes

This study aimed to present a literature review about the characteristics, applications, and potential of avocado (Persea americana). Avocado is considered one of the main tropical fruits, as it contains fat-soluble vitamins which are less common in other fruits, besides high levels of protein, potassium and unsaturated fatty acids. Avocado pulp contains variable oil content, and is widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, and in the production of commercial oils similar to olive oil. This fruit has been recognized for its health benefits, especially due to the compounds present in the lipidic fraction, such as omega fatty acids, phytosterols, tocopherols and squalene. Studies have shown the benefits of avocado associated to a balanced diet, especially in reducing cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular diseases. The processed avocado pulp is an alternative to utilize fruits, which can be used in various value-added food products. Fluid extract of the avocado leaves is widely used in pharmaceutical products, mainly due to the diuretic characteristic of the present compounds in plant leaves. With the increasing research supporting the nutritional characteristics and benefits of avocado, the tendency is to increase the production and exploitation of this raw material in Brazil, as also observed in other countries. Key words: avocado tree, avocado oil, unsaturated fatty acid, bioactive compounds. Objetivou-se com este trabalho apresentar uma revisao da literatura sobre as caracteristicas, aplicacoes e potencialidades do abacate (Persea americana). O abacate e considerado um dos principais frutos tropicais, pois possui as vitaminas lipossoluveis que, em geral, sao deficientes nas outras frutas. Alem destas, contem proteinas e elevados teores de potassio e acidos graxos insaturados. Apresenta quantidade variavel de oleo na polpa, sendo esta vastamente utilizada nas industrias farmaceutica e de cosmeticos, e na obtencao de oleos comerciais similares ao azeite de oliva. Esse fruto tem sido reconhecido por seus beneficios a saude, especialmente em funcao dos compostos presentes na fracao lipidica, como acidos graxos omega, fitoesterois, tocoferois e esqualeno. Estudos tem demonstrado os beneficios do abacate associado a uma dieta balanceada, principalmente, na reducao do colesterol e na prevencao de doencas cardiovasculares. A polpa do abacate na forma processada e uma alternativa para aproveitar os frutos, passivel de ser utilizada em diversos