Post-harvest quality and quantification of betalains, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in fruits of three cultivars of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill)

Authors

  • F P H Gonzalez Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Montecillo, Estado de México Author
  • V C Saucedo Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Montecillo, Estado de México Author
  • R D Guerra Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Estado de México Author
  • E J Suarez Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Montecillo, Estado de México Author
  • H R M Soto Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Montecillo, Estado de México Author
  • J A Lopez Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Montecillo, Estado de México Author
  • C E Garcia Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Montecillo, Estado de México Author
  • R G Hernández Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Montecillo, Estado de México Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24154/jhs.v16i1.1124

Keywords:

Betalains, Flavonoids, Opuntia ficus-indica, Phenolic compounds, Prickly pear

Abstract

Postharvest quality, quantification of betalains, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity of peel, pulp, and juice of fruits of three prickly pears (Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill.) cultivars of Colegio de Postgraduados in México, were measured. The red and orange cultivars showed outstanding features of postharvest quality (size, texture, TSS and pulp and juice content) highest content of betalains and phenolic compounds. Therefore, highest antioxidant activity. In general, the highest content of bioactive compounds was detected in the peel, besides the content in pulp and juice did not show statistically significant differences. Phenolic content is very high in comparison with other fruits. Antioxidant activity was measured by three assays:
FRAP, ABTS, and DPPH. Three cultivars showed a high correlation between antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds. The methodologies used in this work are a very useful tool for the quantification of bioactive compounds in O. ficus-indica fruit tissues.

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Published

30-06-2021

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Original Research Papers

How to Cite

Gonzalez, F. P. H., Saucedo, V. C., Guerra, R. D., Suarez, E. J., Soto, H. R. M., Lopez, J. A., Garcia, C. E., & Hernández, R. G. (2021). Post-harvest quality and quantification of betalains, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in fruits of three cultivars of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill). Journal of Horticultural Sciences, 16(1), 91-102. https://doi.org/10.24154/jhs.v16i1.1124