Deep Eutectic Solvents as a Green Tool for the Extraction of Bioactive Phenolic Compounds from Avocado Peels

What if the secret to greener chemistry and powerful antioxidants was hiding in the trash of your guacamole production? Scientists are turning discarded avocado peels into high-value extracts using eco-friendly solvents.

Avocado processing leaves behind a mountain of agro-industrial residue: the peels. Fortunately, these waste materials are rich in bioactive phenolic compounds. To harvest these valuable molecules sustainably, researchers have turned to deep eutectic solvents, or DESs, which serve as a biocompatible and non-toxic alternative to traditional organic solvents.

In a recent study, five selected DESs were tested to extract these compounds from avocado peels, with their efficiency measured by total phenolics and flavonoids. Every single tested DES outperformed traditional ethanol in extraction efficiency. The absolute winners? Choline chloride combined with either acetic acid or lactic acid, pulling out impressive yields of total phenolics and flavonoids.

Beyond just looking good in the lab, these extracts pack a serious punch. They displayed high antioxidant activity and successfully fought off all tested bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Because these green solvents are also biodegradable, low-cost, and environmentally friendly, they offer a powerful, sustainable toolkit for turning agricultural waste into high-performance resources.

Key Points

• DES outperforms ethanol in extracting avocado peel compounds
• Choline chloride with acetic or lactic acid yielded best results
• Extracts showed strong antioxidant and antibacterial activities