Toward unfolding the bioeconomy of nopal (Opuntia spp.)

Abstract

Besides being a source of healthy food and water in arid and semi‐arid lands, the Opuntia cactus plant (nopal) provides unique ecosystem services. In the last decade the plant's cladodes, fruits, flowers, and byproducts have become a source of valued bioproducts, increasingly used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, beverage, and nutraceutical industries. Following an updated examination of the new uses of nopal's biological resources, this study suggests avenues to overcome the main obstacles to unleashing the full potential of Opuntia's bioeconomy. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Cladodes: Chemical and structural properties, biological activity, and polyphenols profile

“…The leaves or cladodes (Figure 1a) are ovoid or elongated racquet-shaped, with 30-60 cm in length depending on the water and nutrients available (Ciriminna et al, 2019). In Africa, cladodes are exclusively used for animal feeding (De Albuquerque et al, 2019;Mounir et al, 2020); while in Japan, they are hydroponically cultivated for human consumption (Horibe, 2018), as a medicinal plant for diabetes and hypercholesterolemia (Santos-Zea et al, 2011).…”

Bioeconomía una alternativa para México. Análisis bibliométrico a la Web of Science.

“…De los documentos más relevantes por sus citas (figura 5), se encuentran las publicaciones de Ciriminna et al, y en sus trabajos sugieren aprovechar el potencial de la bioeconomía de Opuntia, la planta de cactus Opuntia (nopal); además de ser una fuente de alimentos y agua saludables en las tierras áridas y semiáridas, proporciona servicios de ecosistema únicos. En la última década, los cladodios, frutos, flores y subproductos de la planta se han convertido en una fuente de valiosos bioproductos, que se utilizan cada vez más en las industrias farmacéutica, cosmética, alimentaria, de bebidas y nutracéutica (Ciriminna, Chavarría-Hernández, et al, 2019). Nota.…”

Preparing for the future: Solar energy and bioeconomy in the United Arab Emirates

“…39 Beyond affording exquisite fruits (prickly pears or barbary figs) for human consumption, and stems (cladodes) containing >90% water used as excellent forage, the plant has lately become a source of valued ingredients increasingly used in nutraceutical, personal care, and cosmetic products. 40 In Tunisia, for instance, some 800 farming companies supply barbary figs coming from 2500 hectares to companies that extract the oil from the fruit's seeds. The oil is widely considered the best "beauty oil" available today to cosmetic…”