Characterization of mucilage from clones of Opuntia and Nopalea prickly pear cactus harvested in different seasons in Brazilian semiarid

Abstract

This study proposes to characterize hydrated and refrigerated mucilage obtained from cladodes of clones of prickly pear cactus harvested during the drizzle and dry seasons in the semiarid of Brazil. Cladodes of Opuntia stricta [Haw.] Haw (Orelha de Elefante Mexicana [OEM] clone) and Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck (IPA Sertânia [IPA] and Miúda [MIU] clones) were harvested at 6 am and extracted mucilage. The main bands in the infrared region were characterized. Physicochemical analyses were performed on day zero and at 12 days. Cladodes harvested in the dry season showed higher mucilage yield and soluble solid, total soluble carbohydrate, and K+, for the three clones. The OEM clone also exhibited significant increases in pH, Na+, and electrical conductivity when harvested in the dry season than in the wet season. In addition, the mucilage extracted from the Opuntia cladodes did not have changes in the carbohydrate, titratable acidity, or total soluble protein levels. The IPA and MIU clones, in turn, were characterized by parameters that remained stable during conservation (phenolic compounds, titratable acidity, K+ and Na+). The spectroscopic profile was similar for all studied clones. The principal component analysis allowed the formation of clusters between seasons and conservation times. It is suggested that the cladodes of the genus Nopalea showed better potential in the manufacture of edible films and coatings. The cladodes of the genus Opuntia, for the use of mucilage as ingredients in foods such as bread, pasta, and others, making them with better functional properties. Therefore, these factors should be considered for the use of mucilage in the industry.

Preparation and characterization of a biodegradable film from cactus Nopalea sp.

“…(Orelha de Elefante Mexicana). In addition, the hydrated mucilage of N. cochenillifera (Miúda clone) preserved the attributes of proteins, total soluble solids, vitamin C, and electrical conductivity over a period of 12 days, in relation to the O. stricta (Panta-Araújo et al 2021). This suggests that mucilage extracted from the genus Nopalea is a likely candidate for the formulation of biodegradable films.…”

“…Cactus plants were cultivated in February 2016, in the experimental area of the Reference Center for Cactus Agrometeorology Studies and other Forage Plants at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE/UAST), located in the municipality of Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, Brazil (7º59' S; 38º15' W and 431m), classified as a BShw climate region (Alvares et al, 2013). The physicochemical characteristics of the cultivated soil have been described by Araújo et al (2021). Three clones of forage cactus were cultivated: Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (OEM; Opuntia stricta [Haw.]…”

“…), Miúda (MIU; Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dick), and IPA Sertânia (IPA; Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dick) spaced 1.0 x 0.2 m apart, with a total of 8 plants per useful plot for each clone. Cultural practices and fertilization management are described by Panta-Araújo et al (2021).…”

“…These variations in mucilage yield observed by these authors may be due to the extraction method used by them (aqueous extraction) when compared to the present work (alcoholic extraction). Factors such as the age and size of the cladodes, as well as the cultivation and climatic conditions, can alter the amount of mucilage extracted (Gheribi and Khwaldia, 2019a;du Toit et al, 2020;Panta-Araújo et al, 2021).…”

“…In works with Nopalea mucilage, Morais et al (2019) reported the use of N. cochenillifera mucilage biocoatings associated with the maintenance of sensory attributes and lower loss of fresh mass of minimally processed yam (Dioscorea spp.). Panta-Araújo et al (2021) also found that the mucilage of the N. cochenillifera (IPA Sertânea and Miúda clones), showed similar physicochemical characteristics to the mucilage of Opuntia stricta [Haw.] Haw.…”