Various studies mention that more than 20% of the total weight of avocado fruit corresponds to seed and exocarp. According to this, the yield of a natural dye obtained from the seed of two varieties of avocado tree Persea americana L. was determined under different extraction conditions. Three factors of study were established, with two levels each: avocado variety (Lorena and Hass), type of solvent (ethanol and petroleum ether) and the moisture condition of the seed (fresh and dried). The results obtained for the extract yield indicated the best values for fresh seeds when ethanol was used as solvent, regardless of the variety. The highest concentration of dye was found for variety Hass on its dry condition, indistinctly of the solvent employed. © 2016, Universidad Nacional de Colombia1. All rights reserved.

Esperanza.Puentes@campusucc.edu.co

jannet.ortiz@campusucc.edu.co