Seasonal characterization of nutritional, technological and antioxidant properties of Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. mucilage

Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. fruit and cladodes are a source of mucilage, a carbohydrate complex, as well as of phytochemicals and other nutrients, useful in the food industry. Despite the environmental-based composition variability studied, there is no information on its seasonal variability, which is particularly important for its industrial use. In this study, some technological, nutritional, and bioactive properties of O. ficus-indica Mill. cladodes mucilage were analysed during the seasonal growth period. Total proteins did not change during the whole period and the lipid content significantly decreased from winter to the onset of summer. The fatty acid profile showed high levels of palm…

Preliminary investigations on Gracilaria gracilis cultivation techniques and extraction of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity

Preliminary results on the effects exerted in vitro by lycopene extracted from halobacteria living in salt-work of trapani (Western Sicily, Italy).