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Botanical illustration of Avocado Leaf
MedicinalSourced entry

Avocado Leaf

Persea americana

Leaves of the avocado tree, made into a tea and used in Caribbean folk medicine for high blood pressure. They lowered blood pressure in rats but haven't been tested in people.

What is Avocado Leaf?

Plant family
Lauraceae, the laurel family
Parts used
The leaves, usually made into a tea
Genus
Persea
Species
americana

Also called

Avocado

Traditionally used for

  • High blood pressure (traditional)
  • Tea

Traditionally described as

  • May lower blood pressure (in animal studies)

Health topics

Where Avocado Leaf appears in symptom search, and why. Being listed doesn't mean it's a proven treatment.

  • High Blood Pressure

    Traditionally used for high blood pressure in the Caribbean. It lowered blood pressure in rats but hasn't been tested in people.

Traditions that use it

  • Caribbean Folk Medicine

    Used in Trinidad and Tobago for high blood pressure.

What does the research say?

Traditional use

These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.

  • In Trinidad and Tobago, avocado is used for high blood pressure. The 2006 review that recorded this listed it among the plants that may be safe and justify more formal testing.[1]

  • Avocado leaves have traditionally been used to lower blood pressure.[2]

Laboratory & animal research

Lab and animal results show what might be worth studying in people. They don't show that the herb has these effects in humans.

  • In rats with high blood pressure caused by salt, avocado leaf extract given for 14 days brought blood pressure back to near normal and increased urination. In lab tests it blocked ACE, the same enzyme targeted by some blood pressure medicines.[2]

    Technical detail: 16% NaCl-induced hypertension in 24 Wistar rats; extract lowered systolic pressure from 164.9 to 116.8 mmHg and diastolic from 118.4 to 82.8 mmHg; ACE inhibition about 60%; rich in quercetin and potassium.

In short

Not studied in people; its safety is unknown.

Sources

  1. [1] Ethnomedicines used in Trinidad and Tobago for urinary problems and diabetes mellitus — Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine · DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-2-45Peer-reviewed study
  2. [2] Effectiveness of avocado leaf extract (Persea americana Mill.) as antihypertensive — F1000Research · DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.124643.2Peer-reviewed study

This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.