Opuntia ficus indica, also known as prickly pads, are an important part of the human diet and are also used as forage for livestock. This is an interesting vegetable due the environmental conditions in which it grows and its resistance to climatic extremes; however, little is known about its nutritional properties, especially in the later stages of maturity. The objective of this study was to determine the composition of organic prickly pads (Opuntia ficus indica) at differing stages of growth maturity. Chemical proximate analysis and mineral constituent analysis at different maturation stages were carried out in this investigation. As a result, older prickly pads were found to be an important source of nutritional components such as calcium.

Nopal is included in the human diet and used as forage, which is interesting vegetal due to its environmental resistance, but little is known about its nutritional properties along the maturity stage. The objective of this study was to determine the development of the of nopal (Opuntia ficus indica, cv. Redonda) composition at advanced maturity stages in order to evaluate the age related changes in the nutritional composition for suggest its potential use for human consumption. Chemical proximate analysis, mineral constituents and amino acid profile were carried out at different maturation stages. Insoluble dietary fiber, calcium increased from 17.95% to 34.40% from 40-135 days respectively. In addition the ash and phosphorus content also increased. The soluble dietary fiber in nopal decreased as age progressed from 40 to 135 age days. Data also showed that nopal contain 17 amino acids and nine of them are considered essential. The results show that older nopal is an important source of calcium and dietary fiber. Nopal can be an economic alternative for use as food supplement mainly at advanced maturation stage i.e. at 135 days and can be ameliorate or prevent the chronic and degenerative disease.

No abstract