Opuntia spp.: An Overview of the Bioactive Profile and Food Applications of This Versatile Crop Adapted to Arid Lands

Abstract

Opuntia spp. are crops well adapted to adverse environments and have great economic potential. Their constituents, including fruits, cladodes, and flowers, have a high nutritional value and are rich in value-added compounds. Cladodes have an appreciable content in dietary fiber, as well as bioactive compounds such as kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin. Fruits are a major source of bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids and vitamin C. The seeds are mainly composed of unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. The flowers are also rich in phenolic compounds. Therefore, in addition to their traditional uses, the different plant fractions can be processed to meet multiple applications in the food industry. Several bakery products have been developed with the incorporation of cladode flour. Pectin and mucilage obtained from cladodes can act as edible films and coatings. Fruits, fruit extracts, and fruit by-products have been mixed into food products, increasing their antioxidant capacity and extending their shelf life. Betalains, obtained from fruits, can be used as food colorants and demonstrate promising applications as a sensor in food packaging. This work reviews the most valuable components of the different fractions of this plant and emphasizes its most recent food applications, demonstrating its outstanding value.

Antioxidant Activity and Seasonal Variations in the Composition of Insoluble Fiber from the Cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller: Development of New Extraction Procedures to Improve Fiber Yield

“…One method could be the enzymatic–gravimetric of McCleary [ 31 ], which involves the use of enzymes, such as hydrolases (thermostable alpha-amylase), followed by the addition of ethanol and acetone and filtration. Another widely used method provides pretreatment with NaOH or hydrogen peroxide [ 32 ]. We have chosen to extract the fiber without using chemical solvents; the three most harmless and environmentally friendly methods are as follows: Extraction with water [ 33 ]; Extraction with ethanol [ 34 ]; Steam extraction in the presence of lemon juice [ 35 ].…”

“…The yield of the obtained fiber was expressed in % and was calculated by dividing the weight (g) of the dried extracted fiber by the weight (g) of the dried cladode powders [ 32 ] as follows: Fiber yield (%) = (Ef/Cp) × 100 …”

Interactions of Opuntia ficus-indica with Dactylopius coccus and D. opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) through the Study of Their Volatile Compounds

“…The volatilomes of the Esmeralda and Rojo Pelón cultivars were different before and after Dactylopius infestation. The variation in compound production in cladodes of both cultivars prior to infestation (by Dactylopius) may be specific to each cultivar, as variations of other bioactive and volatile compounds have been reported in different cultivars of O. ficus-indica [31,35,47]. However, variation in the number and abundance of VOCs within each cultivar after infestation can be attributed to D. coccus or D. opuntiae feeding on its corresponding cultivar host, as has been demonstrated in other plants where the change in production of VOCs, particularly terpenes and sesquiterpenes, was directly associated with phytophagous insect feeding [23,24,48,49].…”

New Functional Foods with Cactus Components: Sustainable Perspectives and Future Trends

“…Cacti, particularly the Opuntia spp. (nopal cactus), are abundant in dietary fiber, making them excellent candidates for the development of fiber-rich food products [ 63 ]. Table 4 summarizes some works regarding the health benefits of prebiotic food products formulated with cacti products.…”