Determination of Antioxidant Constituents in Cactus Pear Fruits

Abstract

An analytical study was carried out on the presence of antioxidant constituents and the in vitro antioxidant capacity in the extracts of three species of Spanish red-skinned cactus pear fruits (Opuntia ficus-indica, Opuntia undulata and Opuntia stricta). The cactus pear fruit extracts were analyzed for determined constituents: ascorbic acid, flavonoids (quercetin, isorhamnetin, myricetin, kaempferol and luteolin), betalains, taurine, total carotenoids and total phenolics. The antioxidant capacity was assessed by means of two different methods: the 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) method and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical method. Opuntia ficus-indica fruit extract had the strongest antioxidant capacity and taurine content. O. stricta fruits were the richest in ascorbic acid and total phenolics, whereas O. undulata fruits showed the highest carotenoid content. Quercetin and isorhamnetin were the main flavonoids detected. This study provides basic information on the presence of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity in extracts of cactus pear fruits, in order to consider these extracts as ingredient for the production of health-promoting food.

The optimization of phenolic compounds extraction from cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) skin in a reflux system using response surface methodology

“…This may be cause of a greater phenolic content in the extract [24] . On the other hand, our results are greater than (55.6依5.9) µg/mg, reported in the study performed by using the complete fruit without heating [1] . Thus, according to our results and one reported by other authors, heating process is an important aspect for the phenolic compounds extraction.…”

“…Briefly, 1 mL of ethanolic solution of ABTS was mixed with 10 µL of sample in a quartz cell and the absorbance was read at 734 nm in a spectrophotometer (Thermo Spectronic, Biomate 3, Minnesota, USA). The equation 1 was used to determinate the inhibition percent of the samples:…”

“…(Ac-As) % inhibition ABTS= 伊100 Ac (1) Where Ac is the control absorbance and As is the absorbance of the sample.…”

“…Nowadays, there has been an increase of research studies about natural antioxidants plant-based extracts to obtain bioactive compounds for food and pharmaceutical industries interes [1] . This has been derived for a number of studies that had correlated in a positively diet based on plant food and a reduced risk of diseases associated with oxidative stress [2,3] .…”

Betalaínas, polifenoles y actividad antioxidante en tuna roja mínimamente procesada, almacenada en atmósferas controladas

“…Estos pigmentos se encuentran únicamente en 10 familias del orden de las Caryophyllales, de las cuales sólo dos especies han sido aprobadas para utilizarse como alimentos; la tuna (O. ficus-indica) y el betabel (Beta vulgaris L., Fernández-López et al 2010).…”