Phenolic Profiles, Phytchemicals and Mineral Content of Decoction and Infusion of Opuntia ficus-indica Flowers

Abstract

Opuntia flowers are a natural source of biologically active compounds and they have been used as medicinal plant for a long time. Despite the various uses reported for the decoction and infusion of these flowers, their characterization has been discarded. In this study, the decoction and infusion prepared from Opuntia ficus-indica were analyzed with respect to their content in minerals and phytochemicals in order to evaluate its nutritional characteristics. The obtained data proved that these preparations are a rich source of minerals mainly K and Ca. Moreover, the phytochemical analysis revealed that they have important polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins contents with the infusion that presented the highest polyphenol levels. LC-MS analyses of decoction and infusion allowed the characterization of 20 phenolic compounds. It is mainly identified by the presence of flavonols glycosides.

Phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Tunisian cactus pear (Opuntia ficus indica L.) flower

“…Flower extracts obtained with M/A/E (IC 50 = 0.14 mg/mL) and methanol (IC 50 = 0.20 mg/mL) displayed the highest ability to reduce DPPH, followed by ethanol (IC 50 = 0.36 mg/mL) and acetone (IC 50 = 0.78 mg/mL). Similar results were obtained by Ammar, Ennouri, Bouaziz, et al () who reported that the potent radical scavenging activity obtained from the methanol flower extract. They also confirmed that the significant differences in antioxidant potential between the solvent systems were due to difference in polarity (Ksouri et al, ).…”

“…De Leo et al () did not report presence of phenolic acid in methanol extract from Italian O. ficus indica flower. However, the presence of ferulic, caffeic, coumaric acids, and their derivatives had been reported by Ammar, Ennouri, Bouaziz, Ben Amira, and Attia () in flower decoction and infusion from Tunisian O. ficus indica . Phenolic acids showed antibacterial and antifungal activities after oxidation in quinines by enzymes of plants or microorganisms (Bennett & Wallsgrove, ) (Table ).…”

“…Yeddes, Ch erif, Guyot, et al (2014) ficus indica flower. However, the presence of ferulic, caffeic, coumaric acids, and their derivatives had been reported by Ammar, Ennouri, Bouaziz, Ben Amira, and Attia (2015) in flower decoction and infusion from Tunisian O. ficus indica. Phenolic acids showed antibacterial and antifungal activities after oxidation in quinines by enzymes of plants or microorganisms (Bennett & Wallsgrove, 1994) ( Bourgou et al (2008) who demonstrated that phenolic compounds were responsible for antioxidant activity of Tunisian Nigella sativa.…”

“…As shown in Ammar, Ennouri, Bouaziz, et al (2015) who reported that the potent radical scavenging activity obtained from the methanol flower extract. They also confirmed that the significant differences in antioxidant potential between the solvent systems were due to difference in polarity .…”

Assessing Nutritional Traits and Phytochemical Composition of Artisan Jams Produced in Comoros Islands: Using Indigenous Fruits with High Health-Impact as an Example of Biodiversity Integration and Food Security in Rural Development

“…The identification of catechin (maximum value of 40.64 ± 1.56 mg/100 g Pr in tamarind jam) and epicatechin (maximum value of 4.03 ± 0.16 mg/100 g Pr in red guava jam) could be useful: indeed, they are involved in the lipid peroxidation inhibition and human cancer cell line proliferation as other similar compounds [ 41 ]. The presence of tannins in adequate amounts in orange and red guava jams (18.24 ± 2.52 mg/100 g Pr and 19.79 ± 0.50 mg/100 g Pr , respectively) are positive as they are free radical quenchers [ 42 ]. High levels of ellagic acid in tamarind jam (23.30 ± 1.96 mg/100 g Pr ) and orange jam (57.11 ± 1.64 mg/100 g Pr ) as well as high content of gallic acid in guava jelly (42.02 ± 0.58 mg/100 g Pr ) and orange jam (87.72 ± 1.81 mg/100 g Pr ) were also detected: these molecules are endowed with numerous biological properties, as anticancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-HIV replication activities [ 43 ].…”