Composition of pulp, skin and seeds of prickly pears fruit (Opuntia ficus indica sp.)

Authors: El Kossori R.L.¹; Villaume C.¹; El Boustani E.²; Sauvaire Y.³; Méjean L.¹

Source: Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, Volume 52, Number 3, 1998 , pp. 263-270(8)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

The proximate composition of pulp, skin and seeds of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus indica) was investigated and is reported on a dry weight basis. The most abundant component of the pulp and skin was ethanol-soluble carbohydrates. Pulp contained glucose (35%) and fructose (29%) while the skin contained essentially glucose (21%). Protein content was 5.1%(pulp), 8.3% (skin) and 11.8% (seeds). Starch was found in each of the three parts of the fruit. Pulp fibers were rich in pectin (14.4%), skin and seeds were rich in cellulose (29.1 and 45.1%, respectively). Skin was remarkable for its content of calcium (2.09%) and potassium (3.4%). Prickly pear is a neglected nutritional source which should be more widely used because of its potential nutrient contribution.

Keywords: Carbohydrate; Fiber; Minerals; Prickly pear; Protein

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM U308) Equipe de Recherches Aliment et Comportement, 38 rue Lionnois, 54 000 Nancy, France 2: Laboratoire de Biochimie Nutritionnelle et Métabolique, Faculté des Sciences Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Maroc 3: Laboratoire de Recherche sur les Substances Naturelles Végétales, UPR ES 1677, Montpellier, France

Publication date: 1998-01-01