Diversity of Unavailable Polysaccharides and Dietary Fiber in Domesticated Nopalito and Cactus Pear Fruit (Opuntia spp.)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantify mucilages, pectins, hemicelluloses, and cellulose of nopalitos (edible, as vegetable, young cladodes of flat-stemmed spiny cacti) of most consumed Mexican cultivars, and sweet and acid cactus pear fruits of Opuntia spp. The hypothesis is that, regardless of their unavailable polysaccharides diversity, nopalitos and cactus pear fruits are rich sources of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. Twelve cultivars of Opuntia spp. were used. Nopalitos had a significant variation in structural polysaccharides among the cultivars: mucilages (from 3.8 to 8.6% dry matter (DM)) averaged near a half of pectins content (from 6.1 to 14.2% DM) and tightly bound hemicelluloses (from 2.2 to 4.7% DM), which were the less abundant polysaccharides, amounted 50% of the loosely bound hemicelluloses (from 4.3 to 10.7% DM). Acid fruits (or 'xoconostle') had significantly higher unavailable polysaccharides content than sweet fruit, and contain similar proportions than nopalitos. Unavailable polysaccharides represent a high proportion of dry tissues of nopalitos and cactus pear fruits, composition of both of these soluble and insoluble polysaccharides (total dietary fiber) widely vary among cultivars without an evident pattern. Nopalitos and cactus pear fruit can be considered an excellent source of dietary fiber.

Opuntia spp.: Characterization and Benefits in Chronic Diseases

“…It is well known that Opuntia cladodes are a good source of dietary fibers [25], which may help in reducing body weight by binding to dietary fat and increasing its excretion [26]. This may explain why cladodes are considered as hypolipidemic.…”

Toward unfolding bioeconomy of nopal (Opuntia spp.)

“…39,40,41,42 The first study suggesting the use of OFI peel as a source of pectin to be used as thickening material goes back to 1994, 43 when scholars in Italy found out that hot acid extracted OFI pectin had a galacturonic acid content of 64%, and a low degree of methoxylation (10%). Being not edible, the peel is removed from the fruit in all companies selling pacakaged fresh fruits as well as from those producing jams and fruit juice.…”

A Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Litramine IQP‐G‐002AS, an Opuntia ficus-indica Derived Fiber for Weight Management

“…The OFI cladode generally contains approximately 40–50% dry weight of dietary fibers, which consists of soluble and insoluble fiber. The soluble fiber mainly consists of mucilage, gum, pectin, and hemicellulose while the insoluble fiber consists of cellulose and a larger fraction of hemicellulose [15–17]. The fiber composition of OFI cladode is believed to be the main contributor to its reported health benefits, including improved blood glucose levels and blood lipid profiles [18–21].…”