Opuntia Ficus-indica Seeds Research Articles

Effect of Time and Temperature Storage on the Quality of unpasteurized Prickly Pear Juice Enriched with Hydro-soluble Opuntia ficus indica seeds Extract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of incorporating hydrosoluble Opuntia ficus indica seeds extract in unpasteurized prickly pear juice and monitoring its stability. For this purpose, titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), browning index (BI), total phenolic compounds (TPC), total flavonoids (TF), antiradical activity (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and microbial analysis were monitored for both enriched and controlled juices during different time and temperature storage. Before storage, the enriched juice values were respectively 0.096±0.001%, 14.1±0.01%, 0.756±0.01, 133.3±3.4mgGAE/100ml, 5.58±0.07mgQE/100ml, 95.89±14.27mgGAE/100ml and 59.34±5.52mgGAE/100ml for TA, TSS, BI, TPC, TF, DPPH and FRAP; while 0.16±0%, 14.1 ±0.001%, 1.2±0.01, 88.39±4.2mgGAE/100ml, 3.98±1.003mgQE/100ml, 51.08±14.27 mgGAE/100ml and 50.33±5.16mgGAE/100ml for the control juice. The microbial analysis revealed the absence of microorganisms even the juices were unpasteurized. Moreover, the results revealed that the enrichment attenuated significantly the effect of storage; indeed, the use of the prickly pear seeds extract in combination with the juices can be a good alternative to enhance the shelf life of unpasteurized prickly pear juice, and improve their quality attributes as well as to minimize the unwanted changes in the nutritional and organoleptic properties.

Geographic impact on Opuntia ficus-indica seeds: oil and phenolic compound extraction and characterization

Geographic impact on Opuntia ficus-indica seeds: oil and phenolic compound extraction and characterization

Chemical Composition and Bioactivities of Egyptian Opuntia ficus–indica Seeds Oils Obtained by Conventional and Ultrasound-assisted Extraction Techniques

Chemical Composition and Bioactivities of Egyptian Opuntia ficus–indica Seeds Oils Obtained by Conventional and Ultrasound-assisted Extraction Techniques

Hydrogel synthesis using extracted cellulose from Opuntia Ficus indica seeds and its application in methylene blue dye removal

Our study is located on the cellulosic part of Opuntia Ficus Indica seed's residue. The extracted cellulose was dissolved in NaOH/urea solution and then we used the epichlorohydrin as crosslink reagent, to obtain the cellulose-based hydrogel. The structure of the extracted cellulose and synthetized hydrogel was determined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) also scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for a better understanding of the morphology of the synthetized hydrogel. The hydrogel has shown an interesting methylene blue dye adsorption and removal capacity up to 83% using an optimal adsorbent dose m=0.5g at an ambient temperature T=25˚C, the solution concentration 10ppm at a pH=6.5 for 70min. This study confirmed the potentials of using hydrogels in water treatment as a biological support for their extracting properties, respecting the environment, as well as their renewability and their biodegradability.

Optimization of Roasting Conditions on the Bioactive Compounds and their Antioxidant Power from Opuntia fiscus-Indica Seeds using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

This work is aimed to optimize the effects of different roasting factors on the bioactive compound’s antioxidant capabilities of opuntia ficus indica seeds by using DPPH and ABTS assays. The Box-Behnken design (BBD) was applied to optimize the roasting temperature (X1:60-200 °C), roasting time (X2:10-50 min), and extraction time (X3: 3–6h). The optimal conditions of roasting applied in order to optimize the greatest content of the responses were: TPC (Total Phenolic Content): X1:200 °C, X2: 50 min, and X3: 5.49 h with 103.5±0.76 GAE/g extract experimental response, TFC (Total Flavonoids content): X1:200°C, X2:50min, and X3:3.16 h with 104.29±0.54 mg QE/g extract experimental response, TTC (Total Condensed Tannins Content ): X1: 200°C, X2: 50min, X3: 6h with 10,16±0.89 mg QAE/g extract experimental response, TSC ( Total Sugars Content ): X1: 60°C, X2:50 min, X3:5.12 h with 40.35±0.99 mg D-Glu E/g extract an experimental response. The maximal antioxidant power by DPPH and ABTS assays was recorded at a strong temperature of roasting. Moreover, the significant correlations were obtained by the principal component analysis (PCA), the first step, between the bioactive compounds, and on the second step, between their antioxidant capacities (DPPH, ABTS). Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) classified extracts into three clusters on the basis of measured antioxidant activity characteristics. Therefore, the result of this work indicates that roasted Opuntia ficus Indica seeds could be used as a significant human nutrient.

Studies on convective drying of ‘Ameclyae’ Opuntia ficus-indica seeds and its effect on the quality of extracted oil based on its α-tocopherol content

The aim of this work is to model the thin layer convective drying kinetics of ‘Ameclyae’ prickly pear seed variety and to evaluate the effects of drying conditions on the quality of extracted seed oil, specifically α-tocopherol content. Drying experiments were carried on following a full 23 factorial design using a vertical drying tunnel. The study is restricted to a particular particle size and a particular seed bed of height 0.5 cm, of effective porosity around 0.4 and of initial moisture content on dry basis equal to 1.2 (± 0.01) kg/kg. The temperature range was 45 to 70 °C, relative humidity range was 15–30% and air velocity was 1 and 2 m/s. The experimental drying curves were fitted to different semi-theoretical drying models proposed in the literature. The Midilli-Kucuk model was found with satisfaction describing the seed air drying curves with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 and a standard error of 0.01. For each drying condition, the extraction of fixed oil seeds was performed at cold using liquid/solid separation method. The oil quality was evaluated on the basis of the α-tocopherol content. The α-tocopherol was identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV). According to the experimental results, it was found that drying air velocity is the most important factor influencing the concentration of α-tocopherol, whereas the effects of temperature and relative humidity were lower. The increase of the velocity from 1 m/s to 2 m/s reduced the α-tocopherol concentration by about 25%. The convective drying of thin layer of seeds at soft air conditions, drying temperature of 45 °C, relative humidity of 15% and air velocity of 1 m/s give the optimal quality of extracted oil in terms of α-tocopherol content. Characterization of the morphologic structure of seeds was also performed by SEM.

Assessment of some agro-technological parameters of cactus pear fruit (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill.) in Morocco cultivars

Cactaceae had always attracted attention by their strange shapes and important adaptability supporting extreme conditions. For this reasons, Fruit traits were measured on 13 cultivars growing in different locations in Morocco. Results show significant differences between the cultivars. The source of this variation was probably genetic without excluding the geographic effects. The Tamri, Berkan, Ait Baha cultivars showed small fruit dimensions and weight. In contrast, Sidi-Ifni M, Nador, Mohammedia and Ben Guerir were greater than 100 g by fruit. Sidi-Ifni M, Hoceima, Mohammedia and Nador, although larger, contained few seeds, about 200 seeds per fruit; while Tamri, Ait Baha, Safi, Meknes and Tafraout contained over than 230 seeds per fruit. High levels of juice about 62 ml/100 g pulp were obtained with Sidi-Ifni M, Nador, Mohammedia and Ben Guerir cultivars. Total sugars of the 13 cultivars were quite similar and pH was low in Tamri and close to neutrality in the rest of cultivars. Therefore, oil extracted from Opuntia ficus-indica seeds constituted 13.6% of the whole seed. Thin-layer chromatography in conjunction with gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed a relatively high degree of unsaturation, 83.32% and 16% for saturated fatty acid, with a linoleic acid content of 63.66% followed by oleic 18.34%, palmitic 12.84% and stearic acid 2.81%. Based on these results, O. ficus-indica seed oil appears to be a good potential source of edible oil for human and (or) animal consumption. Our investigation describes that Tamri and Tafraout cultivars are not really a commercial viable fruit due to low total soluble solids value and highest seeds number per fruit. Against Mohammedia, Sidi Ifni M and Nador cultivars proved to have the highest fruit weight, very good total soluble solids value and low number of seeds, these cultivars can therefore be planted for both fruit production and for harvesting of cladodes for animal feed. Key words: Opuntia ficus-indica, cultivars, fruit juice, acidity, total soluble solids, seeds.

Oil composition and characterisation of phenolic compounds of Opuntia ficus-indica seeds

The seed composition of four varieties of Opuntia ficus-indica growing in Algeria was investigated. Seeds ground into a fine powder were first, subjected to oil extraction and fatty acids analysis. The phenolic compounds were then extracted from the defatted powder of seeds in order to be quantified and characterised by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC–MSn) and to nuclear magnetic resonance (LC–NMR) approaches. In addition, an evaluation of the antioxidant activity of the phenolic extracts was investigated. Gas chromatography analysis of the seed oil showed high percentages of linoleic acid in the four varieties ranging from 58% to 63%. The phenolic profile of the Opuntia ficus-indica seeds displayed a high complexity, with more than 20 compounds detected at 330nm after the LC separation. Among them, three isomers of feruloyl-sucrose were firmly identified and another was strongly supposed to be a sinapoyl-diglycoside. High correlations were found between phenolic content in the defatted seed extracts and their antioxidant activity. The data indicate that the defatted cactus seed wastes still contain various components that constitute a source for natural foods.

Purification and characterization of an amylase from Opuntiaficus‐indica seeds

In Tunisia, prickly pear fruit grow spontaneously; it is consumed as fresh fruit, juice or jam. When the fruit is used for juice production, the seeds are discarded and go to waste. Our study aimed to extract biomolecules from seeds by producing value-added products from the fruits. An amylase from Opuntia ficus-indica seeds was extracted and purified to homogeneity. An increase in specific activity of 113-fold was observed. The apparent molecular mass of the enzyme is 64 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity were pH 5 and 60 °C, respectively. Under these conditions, the specific activity is 245.5 U mg(-1) . The enzyme was activated by Co(2+) and Mg(2+) (relative activity 117% and 113% respectively) at lower ion concentrations. It was strongly inhibited by Mn(2+) and Fe(2+) . Cu(2+) inhibited totally the activity of this enzyme, but Ca(2+) has an inhibitory effect which increases with ion concentration. The extracted enzyme belongs to the exo type of amylases and is classified as a β-cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase since it generates mainly β-cyclodextrin from starch. It exhibits high thermal stability and a broad range of pH stability, making it a promising prospect for industrial and food applications.

Phenolic compounds, protein, lipid content and fatty acids compositions of cactus seeds

Opuntia ficus indica seeds harvested in three different years were investigated for total phenols, protein, total lipid content and fatty acids composition. Seeds were found to be rich in phenolic compounds (268.4 mg/100 g). Seeds contained also 6.0% of protein and 5.5% of oil. Unsaturated fatty acids accounted for the majority of the fatty acids (83.2%). Linoleic acid with 56.6% was the main fatty acid followed by oleic acid (20.1%). Significant differences were observed between total phenols, protein and total lipid content of seeds collected in three different harvested years, whereas no differences in fatty acid (FA) compositions were detected. The use of this plant species as a source of seed oil for dietary, industrial and pharmaceutical applications is discussed.

Low colonic obstruction due to Opuntia ficus indica seeds: the aftermath of enjoying delicious cactus fruits

Low colonic obstruction due to Opuntia ficus indica seeds: the aftermath of enjoying delicious cactus fruits

Low colonic obstruction due to Opuntia ficus indica seeds: the aftermath of enjoying delicious cactus fruits Sir

Low colonic obstruction due to <i>Opuntia ficus indica</i> seeds: the aftermath of enjoying delicious cactus fruits Sir