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

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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.

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Authors and 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

    Radia Lamghari El Kossori, Christian Villaume & Luc Méjean

  2. Laboratoire de Biochimie Nutritionnelle et Métabolique, Faculté des Sciences Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Maroc

    Essadiq El Boustani

  3. Laboratoire de Recherche sur les Substances Naturelles Végétales, UPR ES 1677, Montpellier, France

    Yves Sauvaire

Authors
  1. Radia Lamghari El Kossori
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  2. Christian Villaume
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  3. Essadiq El Boustani
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  4. Yves Sauvaire
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  5. Luc Méjean
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El Kossori, R.L., Villaume, C., El Boustani, E. et al. Composition of pulp, skin and seeds of prickly pears fruit (Opuntia ficus indica sp.). Plant Foods Hum Nutr 52, 263–270 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008000232406

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008000232406

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