Physicochemical characteristics and bioactive compounds of the Xique-xique (Pilosocereus gounellei) cactus from Caatinga Brazilian: are they nutritive and functional?

Abstract

Xique-xique (Pilosocereus gounellei) is a cactus found in the Caatinga biome which is used in folk medicine for treating inflammation, and also used in animal food. This study evaluated its proximate composition and bioactive compounds, as well as its bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity. Experiments were performed on different parts of the plant. The central stem of the xique-xique can be considered a source of insoluble dietary fiber (5.18 g/100 g) and soluble fiber (1.37 g/100 g). The vascular cylinder contained the highest mineral content: K (308.4 mg/100 g), Ca (145.57 mg/100 g), Mg (182.40 mg/100 g), and Mn (7.71 mg/100 g). The vascular cylinder group presented the highest activity for capturing DPPH radicals (572.96 µM of TEAC/100 g) and ferric reducing ability (1912.95 µM of TEAC/100 g). Catechin and epigallocatechin-gallate were the major phenolic compounds, while catechin, epigallocatechin gallate and procyanidin B and gallic acid were the most bioaccessible compounds after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Xique-xique can be considered as a potential food alternative with nutritional value and bioactive compounds, indicating its potential use and enrichment in various food products.

Physical, Nutritional, and Bioactive Properties of Mandacaru Cladode Flour (Cereus jamacaru DC.): An Unconventional Food Plant from the Semi-Arid Brazilian Northeast

“…Incorporating unconventional ingredients into food products is a promising strategy to meet consumer demand for nutritious and sustainable agroecological foods [ 7 ]. In this context, the family Cactaceae presents various non-conventional food plants (NCFP) which arouse great interest in the scientific community due to their nutritional and bioactive ingredients [ 8 , 9 ].…”

“…Although it has expressive nutritional and functional potential, it is little used for human consumption. Its properties as a food matrix are little known, making commercialization and use difficult [ 9 ].…”

“…In general, cacti and, consequently, the flours obtained from them, have a high content of minerals, total fiber, and phenolic compounds, with a low-fat content [ 8 , 9 , 16 ]. The use of flour from different cactus species ( Pilosocereus gounellei , Opuntia ficus-indica L., Opuntia monacantha , and Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm.)…”

Selection of Lactic Acid Bacteria with In Vitro Probiotic-Related Characteristics from the Cactus Pilosocereus gounellei (A. Weber ex. K. Schum.) Bly. ex Rowl

“…ex Rowl., popularly known as xique-xique, is most used by the population of the Brazilian semiarid region [ 8 ]. It is a non-conventional plant food from the Caatinga biome with rich nutritional composition and presence of several health-related bioactive compounds [ 9 ]. Xique-xique cladode juice exerts selective stimulatory effects on the growth and metabolism of different probiotic Lactobacillus species known as part of the human intestinal microbiota to the detriment of enteric bacteria, indicating prebiotic properties [ 10 ].…”

A bibliometric study about unconventional food plants

“…Carvalho et al (2021) andBezerril et al (2021) both studied the xique-xique cactus (Pilosocereus gounellei). The first group of researchers prepared a juice with cladodes of the plant and characterized its nutritional composition, determined the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity.…”