Composition and properties of Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage

Comparative Physico-Chemical Characterization of the Mucilages of Two Cactus Pears (<i>Opuntia</i> Spp.) Obtained from Mekelle, Northern Ethiopia

“…According to a study [4] the mucilage of OFI has hygroscopic nature. Another study [5] also reported that, at 100% RH, mucilage of OFI sorbed 75% moisture, a value lower than that of OFI mucilage examined in this study at the same % RH. These differences could be attributed to the mucilage compositional differences that the cactus plants from different areas are known to have.…”

“…Mucilage is a complex carbohydrate [2] with a highly branched structure, which contains varying proportions of L-arabinose, D-galactose, L-rhamnose and D-xylose, as well as galacturonic acid in different proportions [3,4]. However, the mucilage composition was found to differ among different cactus species and among different areas within a species [5].…”

Processing technologies: an alternative for cactus pear (Opuntia spp.) fruits and cladodes

“…The mucilage, a complex polysaccharide, is part of dietary fibre and has the capacity to absorb large amounts of water, dissolving and dispersing itself and forming viscous or gelatinous colloids. Several authors have studied the extraction of the prickly pear mucilage (McGarvie & Parolis, 1979;Paulsen & Lund, 1979;Trachtenberg & Mayer, 1981;SaH enz et al 1992). The mucilage is composed of arabinose, galactose, rhamnose and galacturonic acid, the latter being in proportions of 17·6 to 24·7%, depending on whether it comes from fruit or cladodes (SaH enz, 1995).…”

Emerging usage of plant-based coagulants for water and wastewater treatment

“…Previous studies have established that mucilage in cactus Opuntia contains carbohydrates such as l-arabinose, d-galactose, l-rhamnose, d-xylose, and galacturonic acid [45] and [46]. Zimmerman and co-researchers [2] recently report that galacturonic acid is possibly the active ingredient that affords the coagulation capability of Opuntia spp.…”