Dose-dependent muscle relaxant activity of avocado leaf (Persea americana Mill.) extract: Central nervous system effects in mice and implications for phytopharmaceutical development

Alsabianti, Nur Ahya
Nampe, Dian Febrianti Putri
Arianti, Ririn
Durratunnafisa, Ihda
Satria, Raasikhah Aadilah
Wahyuni, Resky
Azhara, Wa Ode Kezya
Nurjannah, Nurjannah
Jufri, Agniatul Azizah
Ningrum, Andi Utari Prasetya

Priviet Social Sciences Journal
Vol. 5 No. 12 (2025): December 2025

Avocado leaves (Persea americana Mill.) contain flavonoids, saponins, and phenols, which are thought to exert muscle-relaxing effects through central nervous system depressant mechanisms. This study investigated the muscle-relaxing effects of avocado leaf extract (Persea americana) in male mice. Nine male mice were divided into three groups and administered 1%, 2%, and 4% avocado leaf infusions orally. Motor activity and reflex responses were observed every 15 min until the 100th min to assess muscle relaxation effects. The results showed that the muscle-relaxation effect increased with increasing extract concentration, at 15.55%, 34.44%, and 42.22%, respectively. Flavonoids and saponins are thought to play a role in increasing GABA activity, which reduces muscle tone. Avocado leaf extract showed muscle relaxation effects that increased with dose and has the potential to be a natural muscle relaxant through GABA activation.