The role of avocado plant and its derivatives in the management of diabetes mellitus: a natural approach to glycemic control

Purpose Diabetes mellitus is a global health challenge that leads to severe complications, negatively impacting overall health, life expectancy, and quality of life. Herbal medicines, valued for their accessibility and therapeutic benefits with minimal side effects, have been promoted as potential treatments. Managing conditions like diabetes, characterized by free radical production and cytokine-driven inflammation, is vital due to the active components in plants that exert direct pharmacological effects. This review explores the therapeutic potential of Persea americana Mill plant (avocado) in diabetes management and its potential targets. Methods A comprehensive review of relevant published literature was conducted using keywords such as (“avocado plant” or “ Persea americana ”) and (“diabetes”). Data were collected from scholarly databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct. Results Persea americana (avocado) is rich in bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, oleic acid, phenolics, vitamins, alkaloids, tannins, α-carotene, saponins, β-carotene, and lutein. These components help alleviate the harmful effects of diabetes by reducing β-cell apoptosis and inflammation. They also combat oxidative stress, inhibit specific enzymes, and scavenge free radicals. Furthermore, avocado bioactives influence key pathways critical to diabetes management, such as the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and the regulation of glucose metabolism. Conclusion The biological properties of the parts of Persea americana plant underscore its potential as a complementary medicinal approach to diabetes management. Additionally, its role in improving cardiovascular health, often compromised in diabetics, highlights its broader therapeutic value. Future studies could explore avocado’s impact on specific pathways associated with diabetes mellitus, such as mTOR, Wnt/β-Catenin, AMPK, JAK-STAT, ROS-ERK-NF-κB, and IGF pathways, as current information on this pathways remains limited. Capsule summary Avocado ( Persea americana ) plant produce fruit suitable for consumption globally, not just because of their nutritional content, but also due to their health benefits. Persea americana is rich in phytochemicals contents flavonoids, oleic acid, phenolic compounds, vitamins, minerals, tannins, alkaloids, that could address what brings about diabetes mellitus, making it a potential treatment for diabetes. The review gave an account of the biological activities and potential targe