Effect of location on some physico‐chemical properties of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus‐indicaL.) fruit and seeds

Abstract

Total phenolics, β-carotene, and ascorbic acid contents of cactus fruits varied between 490.74 and 932.87 mg/100 g, 40.93 and 130.76 µg/kg, and 124.82 and 240.25 mg/kg, respectively. K and Ca values of prickly pear fruits changed between 1,908.10 and 3,981.90 mg/kg, and 136.79 and 1,224 mg/kg, respectively. Amounts of gallic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, catechin, 1,2-dihydroxybenzene, syringic acid contents of prickly pear fruit pulps ranged from 0.86 to 166.02 mg/kg, 2.17 to 4.75 mg/kg, 3.29 to 15.55 mg/kg, and 1.63 to 14.14 mg/kg, respectively. Palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids values of seed oils changed between 11.22 and 11.77%, 2.97 and 3.23%, 13.61 and 15.46%, and 60.94 and 63.38%, respectively. Effect of location on seed oil, brixo, saccharose, raffinose, total phenolic content, β-carotene, ascorbic acid values of prickly pear fruits and oleic acid, linoleic acid, erusic acid contents of seed oils is significant in p < 0.01 level. Practical applications Prickly pears grown in limited quantities in Turkey can be used as fresh fruit, juice, jam, and marmalade due to rich in total phenol, phenolic constituents, mineral contents, and antioxidant activity. Because, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 1,2-Dihydroxybenzene, gallic acid, catechin, quercetin, resveratrol, isorhamnetinreadily absorbable carbohydrates, minerals, vitamin C, and soluble fibers are main components of prickly pear fruits. Their seeds considered as waste material during fruit processing can be used as industrial oil due to fatty acid compositions. Prickly pear fruits due to mineral contents can provide tonic effect.