Cactus pear antioxidants: a comparison between fruit pulp, fruit peel, fruit seeds and cladodes of eight different cactus pear cultivars (Opuntia ficus-indica and Opuntia robusta)

A Healthy Brazil Nut Beverage with Opuntia stricta var. dillenii Green Extract: Beverage Stability and Changes in Bioactives and Antioxidant Activity during Cold Storage

Plant-based beverages are one of the foods that currently arouse a lot of interest in the population due to their composition with compounds beneficial to health in addition to their being used as milk substitutes for people who suffer from food disorders. Also, their fortification with different nutrients or healthy ingredients with the aim of improving plant-based health potential is actually gaining importance in the food industry. For this reason, the aim of the present investigation was the preparation of a healthy Brazil nut beverage enriched with Opuntia stricta var. dillenii pulp green extracts (ODPs), in order to produce a healthy plant-based beverage with improved nutritional characteristics. The microstructural characterization of the Brazil nut beverage, its stability during cold storage for up to 24 days at 5 °C, the composition of bioactive compounds provided via ODP extract (betalains and phenolic compounds), and their antioxidant activity were evaluated in this study. Green ODP extracts (0.5 and 1 g/100 g beverage) were added to a standardized Brazil nut beverage (reduced fat beverage). The characterization of the bioactive composition (betalains and phenolic compounds) of the elaborated beverage was achieved via HPLC (UV-vis and MS-QT of detection), and the antioxidant activity measurements via ORAC were also carried out. Optical microscopy, particle size, and Z potential analysis was conducted to characterize the structure of the Brazil nut beverages as food emulsions in which ODP extract was added. Most of the bioactive compounds from the green ODP extract added to the beverages showed good retention and remained stable throughout the 24 days of storage at 7 °C, with encapsulation efficiencies ranging from 98.34% to 92.35% for betalains and from 93.67% and 81.20% for phenolic compounds. According to the results of this study, Brazil nut beverage seems to be a healthy and efficient food emulsion system to encapsulate ODP extract rich in betalains and phenolic compounds, with high antioxidant activity, making possible the development of a Brazil nut beverage with improved health potential.

Profile of Bioactive Components and Antioxidant Activity of Aronia melanocarpa Fruits at Various Stages of Their Growth, Using Chemometric Methods

Aronia (chokeberry, Aronia melanocarpa) is a valuable fruit that combines the health benefits of green tea and red wine and is gaining popularity worldwide. Aronia has a unique chemical composition with strong antioxidant properties, including anthocyanins and chlorogenic acids (CGAs). However, it remains unclear which specific compounds or groups are primarily responsible for the antioxidant properties of chokeberry. Therefore, an analysis of the antioxidant properties of aronia berries based on geographical region and their variability during ripening (from green to frostbitten fruit) was conducted. The fruits were collected from three locations for two years. The aim of our work was to identify the compounds responsible for the antioxidant properties of aronia berry extracts by using chemometric methods. The analyses of anthocyanins and CGAs were performed using HPLC-DAD, and the antioxidant capacity was assessed by FRAP and DPPH methods. The PCA analysis also considered variations in temperature and precipitation. The chemometric analysis revealed a strong correlation between radical-scavenging properties and the content levels of chlorogenic acids. The results obtained in this study show that unripe green chokeberry fruits exhibit the highest antioxidant properties, which can be attributed to the high content of CGAs at this stage.

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. - anticancer properties and phytochemicals: current trends and future perspectives

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, and conventional cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy often result in undesirable and adverse effects. Natural products have emerged as a promising alternative for cancer treatment, with comparatively fewer side effects reported. Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill., a member of the Cactaceae family, contains a diverse array of phytochemicals, including flavonoids, polyphenols, betalains, and tannins, which have been shown to exhibit potent anticancer properties. Various parts of the Opuntia plant, including the fruits, stems/cladodes, and roots, have demonstrated cytotoxic effects against malignant cell lines in numerous studies. This review comprehensively summarizes the anticancer attributes of the phytochemicals found in Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill., highlighting their potential as natural cancer prevention and treatment agents. Bibliometric metric analysis of PubMed and Scopus-retrieved data using VOSviewer as well as QDA analysis provide further insights and niche to be explored. Most anticancer studies on Opuntia ficus-indica and its purified metabolites are related to colorectal/colon cancer, followed by melanoma and breast cancer. Very little attention has been paid to leukemia, thyroid, endometrial, liver, and prostate cancer, and it could be considered an opportunity for researchers to explore O. ficus-indica and its metabolites against these cancers. The most notable mechanisms expressed and validated in those studies are apoptosis, cell cycle arrest (G0/G1 and G2/M), Bcl-2 modulation, antiproliferative, oxidative stress-mediated mechanisms, and cytochrome c. We have also observed that cladodes and fruits of O. ficus-indica have been more studied than other plant parts, which again opens the opportunity for the researchers to explore. Further, cell line-based studies dominated, and very few studies were related to animal-based experiments. The Zebrafish model is another platform to explore. However, it seems like more in-depth studies are required to ascertain clinical utility of this biosustainable resource O. ficus-indica.

Enrichment of Cookies with Fruits and Their By-Products: Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Properties, and Sensory Changes

Cookies made from wheat have become increasingly popular as a snack due to their various advantages, such as their convenience as a ready-to-eat and easily storable food item, wide availability in different types, and affordability. Especially in recent years, there has been a trend towards enriching food with fruit additives, which increase the health-promoting properties of the products. The aim of this study was to examine current trends in fortifying cookies with fruits and their byproducts, with a particular focus on the changes in chemical composition, antioxidant properties, and sensory attributes. As indicated by the results of studies, the incorporation of powdered fruits and fruit byproducts into cookies helps to increase their fiber and mineral content. Most importantly, it significantly enhances the nutraceutical potential of the products by adding phenolic compounds with high antioxidant capacity. Enriching shortbread cookies is a challenge for both researchers and producers because the type of fruit additive and level of substitution can diversely affect sensory attributes of cookies such as color, texture, flavor, and taste, which have an impact on consumer acceptability.

Phytochemical profiling, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities of hydroethanolic extracts of prickly pear ( Opuntia ficus indica ) fruit and pulp

Phenolic compounds in prickly pear [Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill.] are known to contribute to the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the prickly pear. The present study aimed to evaluate the antioxidants and in vitro antimicrobial potential in the hydroethanolic extracts of different parts (fruit, cladode, and pulp) of prickly pear. Different polyphenolic compounds were analyzed by using high-performance liquid chromatography. The results indicated that cladode possessed a higher quantity of phenolics compared with that observed in fruit and pulp. The most important phenolic compound in high quantity was gallic acid (66.19 μg/g) in cladode. The 100% aqueous extract of cladode exhibited the highest antioxidant (92%) and antimicrobial activities against Salmonella typhi (3.40 mg/ml), Helicobacter pylori (1.37 mg/ml), Escherichia coli (1.41 mg/ml), and Staphylococcus aureus (1.41 mg/ml). Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that antioxidant activity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) responses had a significant negative correlation with each other. Overall, the current results provided basic data for choosing prickly pear cladode with high antioxidant capacity for the development and consumption of antioxidant-based alternative medicines and value addition of formulated foods.

Prickly pear fruits from Opuntia ficus-indica varieties as a source of potential bioactive compounds in the Mediterranean diet

Cactus has been used in traditional folk medicine because of its role in treating a number of diseases and conditions. Prickly pear fruit is an excellent source of secondary metabolites (i.e., betalains, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid) with health-promoting properties against many common human diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, rheumatic pain, gastric mucosa diseases and asthma. In addition, prickly pears are potential candidates for the development of low-cost functional foods because they grow with low water requirements in arid regions of the world. This review describes the main bioactive compounds found in this fruit and shows the in vitro and some clinical studies about the fruit of most important cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) and its relationship with some chronic diseases. Even though a lot of effort have been done to study the relationship between this fruit and the human health, more studies on Opuntia ficus-indica could help better understand its pharmacological mechanism of action to provide clear scientific evidence to explain its traditional uses, and to identify its therapeutic potential in other diseases.

Applications and Pharmacological Properties of Cactus Pear (Opuntia spp.) Peel: A Review

Nowadays, there is a growing interest in the exploitation of by-products from fruits and vegetables, generated from industrial processing or human feeding. Residues of popularly consumed fruits such as orange, lemon, banana, pomegranate, among others, have been widely described and studied; however, cactus pear (Opuntia spp.) residues, as a locally consumed product, have been forgotten. The whole fruit can be divided into the edible portion (pulp) and the non-edible portion (seeds and peel). Several studies mainly focus on the characteristics of the edible portion or in the whole fruit, ignoring by-products such as peels, which are rich in compounds such as phenols, flavonoids and dietary fiber; they have also been proposed as an alternative source of lipids, carbohydrates and natural colorants. Some uses of the peel have been reported as a food additives, food supplements, as a source of pectins and for wastewater treatment; however, there have not been any deep investigations of the characteristics and potential uses of the cactus pear peel (CPP). The aim of the present paper is to provide an overview of the current research on CPP. CPP has many bio-active compounds that may provide health benefits and may also be useful in pharmaceutical, food and manufacturing industries; however, greater research is needed in order to gain thorough knowledge of the possibilities of this by-product.

Phenolic composition, antioxidant and antiacetylcholinesterase activities of Opuntia ficus-indica peel and flower teas after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

BACKGROUND

The flowers and peels of cactus Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) are by-products generally discarded. Their beneficial properties have been linked to the chemical composition without taking into account its transformations during digestion. This study evaluated and compared the phenolic composition, antioxidant and antiacetylcholinesterase activities of OFI peel and flower teas before and after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion.

RESULTS

Results showed that OFI peel tea was a source of natural phenolic compounds and carotenoids, while OFI flower tea was a source of flavonoids. Both OFI peel and flower teas exhibited high antioxidant activities (AAs) measured by several tests [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH^• ), reducing power (RP), hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (HPSA)]. Flower teas presented a higher antiacetylcholinesterase inhibition percentage than peel teas. Significant decreases of acetylcholinesterase and AAs were obtained under in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Fourteen phenolic compounds typical of phenolic acids and flavonoids were identified in both teas. These compounds seemed to be more affected by pancreatic than by the gastric conditions.

CONCLUSION

OFI peel tea has been found as a source of natural phenolic compounds and carotenoids, while OFI dry flower tea as a source of flavonoids. The OFI flower tea phytochemicals were more stable than peel tea during the digestive process. These findings suggest that peels and flowers of OFI should be considered as sources of healthy ingredients. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Exploration of Betalains and Determination of the Antioxidant and Cytotoxicity Profile of Orange and Purple Opuntia spp. Cultivars in Greece

Replacing synthetic dyes with natural pigments has gained great attention over the past years in the food industry, due to the increased alertness of consumers for nontoxic and natural additives. Betalains are water-soluble nitrogenous natural pigments that are used as natural colorants in food industries, due to their applicability and their rich pharmacological profile including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. Therefore, there is a need for a detailed exploration of betalains to fully exploit their properties. Opuntia spp. plants are one of the primary sources of betalains. The objective of this study was to identify betalain phytochemical content in prickly pear cactus of two different Opuntia species from Greece (an Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill (OFI) orange prickly pear cultivar and an Opuntia spp. purple prickly pear cultivar) using modern analytical techniques as also to evaluate their antioxidant and cytotoxicity profile. To achieve this we used an array of analytical techniques, including ultra-violet-vis (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) as also cell based in vitro assays. These enabled us to establish a rapid approach that can distinguish the different Opuntia spp. cultivars based on their phytochemical constituents through untargeted metabolomics analysis using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry - quadrupole time-of-flight (UPLC/MS Q-TOF). These findings could allow a further exploitation of Opuntia species and especially their enriched betalain phytochemical profile as viable source of natural food colorants.

Comparative study between in vivo- and in vitro-derived extracts of cactus (Opuntis ficus-indica L. Mill) against prostate and mammary cancer cell lines

Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill cladodes are considered to be a source of an abundance of bioactive compounds. To identify a natural product that can be used in the chemoprevention and treatment of cancer, this study was conducted to produce an anticancer agent extracted from in vitro-derived cladodes of prickly pear cactus. Toward this goal, assays of seed germination and micropropagation revealed that the highest seed germination rate was 66% and that the highest shoot number per explant was obtained with benzyl adenine (BA) (2 mg/l) and kinetin (Kin) (1 mg/l) within 2 months, at 22.6. In addition, the maximum length of shoots was obtained with BA (3 mg/l) and Kin (0.5 mg/l), at 7.44 cm. The in vitro-derived cladode extract showed higher total phenolic and kaempferol contents than the in vivo-derived cladode extract (total phenolics 156.5 mg/g and 86 mg/g DW; kaempferol 2.807 mg/g and 1.304 mg/g DW, respectively). These remarkable results reflected the anticancer activity on the viability and proliferation/migration of PC3 prostate and mammary Mcf7-7 cells. In terms of cytotoxicity, the IC50 values on PC3 and Mcf7 cells were 5775.7 and 6311.3 μg/ml, respectively, showing dose-dependent increases. Meanwhile, from in vivo analyses of the plants, the IC50 values were 5927.93 and 6825.6 μg/ml, respectively, again showing dose-dependent increases.

Phytochemical Content, Antioxidant, Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitory and Antibacterial Activities of Spineless Cactus Pear Cultivars

Variation in cultivars can influence plant biological activities. This study aimed to identify superior cultivars while determining the variability in the phytochemical content, antioxidant, alpha-glucosidase inhibitory and antibacterial activities of cladode extracts from selected spineless Burbank cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica and Opuntia robusta) cultivars. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride spectrophotometric methods, respectively. Antioxidant activity was investigated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and β-carotene linoleic acid assays. Alpha-glucosidase inhibition was determined using a spectrophotometric method and antibacterial activity using a non-polar (petroleum ether) and polar (50% methanol) extracts against two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria. Significant variation in phytochemical content, antioxidant, antidiabetic and antibacterial activities was observed amongst the cultivars. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity varied widely with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.06 to 1.85 mg/mL. Radical scavenging activity of Polypoly cultivar was about seven fold higher than that recorded in other cultivars with low activity. Turpin and Berg x Mexican cultivars had the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents, whilst the non-polar extract of Turpin also exhibited higher antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. Sicilian Indian Fig was amongst the cultivars with a higher antioxidant activity, whilst also showing a strong inhibition against B. subtilis and E. coli. Polypoly cultivar demonstrated strong antioxidant and antidiabetic activities while its polar extract showed the highest total antibacterial activity against B. subtilis. The cultivar Malta was superior in terms of its antibacterial potency and efficacy against B. subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. The potential of using spineless cactus pear cladodes as a functional food with antioxidant, antidiabetic and antibacterial properties against pathogenic food spoilage bacteria in place of synthetic compounds was established. The significance of cultivar selection to increase this potential was highlighted.

Redox and autonomic responses to acute exercise-post recovery following Opuntia ficus-indica juice intake in physically active women

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate if the supplementation with Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) juice may affect plasma redox balance and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters following a maximal effort test, in young physically active women.

METHODS

A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled and crossover study comprising eight women (23.25 ± 2.95 years, 54.13 ± 9.05 kg, 157.75 ± 0.66 cm and BMI of 21.69 ± 0.66 kg/m2) was carried out. A juice containing OFI diluted in water and a Placebo solution were supplied (170 ml; OFI = 50 ml of OFI juice + 120 ml of water; Placebo = 170 ml beverage without Vitamin C and indicaxanthin). Participants consumed the OFI juice or Placebo beverage every day for 3 days, before performing a maximal cycle ergometer test, and for 2 consecutive days after the test. Plasma hydroperoxides and total antioxidant capacity (PAT), Skin Carotenoid Score (SCS) and HRV variables (LF, HF, LF/HF and rMSSD) were recorded at different time points.

RESULTS

The OFI group showed significantly lower levels of hydroperoxides compared to the Placebo group in pre-test, post-test and 48-h post-test. PAT values of the OFI group significantly increased compared to those of the Placebo group in pre-test and 48-h post-test. SCS did not differ between groups. LF was significantly lower in the OFI group 24-h after the end of the test, whereas rMSSD was significantly higher in the OFI group 48-h post-test.

CONCLUSION

OFI supplementation decreased the oxidative stress induced by intense exercise and improved autonomic balance in physically active women.

Characterization of Bioactive Compounds of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. Seeds from Spanish Cultivars

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. is the Cactaceae plant with the greatest economic relevance in the world. It can be used for medicinal purposes, animal nutrition, production of biofuels and phytoremediation of soils. Due to its high content of bioactive compounds, the prickly pear has antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer properties. The aim of this study was to determine the polyphenolic, fatty acid and amino acid profile and characterize the antioxidant capacity of seeds of seven Spanish prickly pear cultivars. A total of 21 metabolites, mainly phenolic acids and flavonols, were identified using ultraperformance liquid chromatography photodiode detector quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-PDA-Q/TOF-MS). Significant differences were found in the phenolic concentrations of the investigated varieties. The highest amount of phenolic compounds (266.67 mg/kg dry matter) were found in the "Nopal espinoso" variety, while the "Fresa" variety was characterized by the lowest content (34.07 mg/kg DM) of these compounds. In vitro antioxidant capacity was positively correlated with the amount of polyphenols. The amino acid composition of protein contained in prickly pear seeds was influenced by the variety. Glutamic acid was the predominant amino acid followed by arginine, aspartic acid and leucine, independent of prickly pear variety. Overall, 13 different fatty acids were identified and assessed in prickly pear seeds. The dominant fatty acid was linoleic acid, with content varying between 57.72% "Nopal ovalado" and 63.11% "Nopal espinoso".

Chemistry, Biological Activities and In Silico Bioprospection of Sterols and Triterpenes from Mexican Columnar Cactaceae

The Cactaceae family is an important source of triterpenes and sterols. The wide uses of those plants include food, gathering, medicinal, and live fences. Several studies have led to the isolation and characterization of many bioactive compounds. This review is focused on the chemistry and biological properties of sterols and triterpenes isolated mainly from some species with columnar and arborescent growth forms of Mexican Cactaceae. Regarding the biological properties of those compounds, apart from a few cases, their molecular mechanisms displayed are not still fully understand. To contribute to the above, computational chemistry tools have given a boost to traditional methods used in natural products research, allowing a more comprehensive exploration of chemistry and biological activities of isolated compounds and extracts. From this information an in silico bioprospection was carried out. The results suggest that sterols and triterpenoids present in Cactaceae have interesting substitution patterns that allow them to interact with some bio targets related to inflammation, metabolic diseases, and neurodegenerative processes. Thus, they should be considered as attractive leads for the development of drugs for the management of chronic degenerative diseases.