6533b86dfe1ef96bd12caa64
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Seasonal characterization of nutritional and antioxidant properties of Opuntia ficus-indica [(L.) Mill.] mucilage
Paolo IngleseAndrea SantulliMaria MorgheseConcetta Maria MessinaRosaria ArenaGiorgia Liguorisubject
General Chemical Engineering01 natural sciences0404 agricultural biotechnologyNutrientSettore AGR/20 - ZoocoltureSettore BIO/10 - Biochimica0103 physical sciencesCladodesFood scienceSettore BIO/06 - Anatomia Comparata E Citologiachemistry.chemical_classification010304 chemical physicsbiologyfood and beveragesFatty acid04 agricultural and veterinary sciencesGeneral Chemistrybiology.organism_classification040401 food scienceSettore AGR/03 - Arboricoltura Generale E Coltivazioni ArboreeAntioxidant power Cactus pear Mucilage Nutritional characterization PUFA omega-3 Seasonal effectHuman nutritionMucilagechemistryPolyphenolComposition (visual arts)Food SciencePolyunsaturated fatty aciddescription
Abstract Opuntia ficus-indica 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 has been 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 cladodes mucilage were analyzed 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 palmitic (16:0), oleic (18:1n9), and linoleic (18:2n6) acids and that the polyunsaturated fatty acid class (PUFA) is the most abundant fatty acid class, which showed a significant increase during the growth period. In this class, the presence of 20:5n-3 (EPA) and 22:6n-3 (DHA), two of the most important human nutrition essential fatty acids, is worth noting as well as the positive effect of the omega-3 series founder, α-linolenic acid 18:3 n-3. Total polyphenol values indicated that extract quality changes with the sampling period and is not closely related to the total extract yield. All the descriptors of the antioxidant power seem to indicate that the best properties are exhibited during the summer. The principal component analysis can significantly help identify the technical, nutritional, and bioactive factors that make it possible to distinguish the quality of O. ficus-indica mucilage, in order to harvest it in the most appropriate season.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-02-01 | Food Hydrocolloids |