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Characterization of crystalline structures in Opuntia ficus-indica

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Abstract

This research studies the crystalline compounds present in nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica) cladodes. The identification of the crystalline structures was performed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The crystalline structures identified were calcium carbonate (calcite) [CaCO3], calcium-magnesium bicarbonate [CaMg(CO3)2], magnesium oxide [MgO], calcium oxalate monohydrate [Ca(C2O4)•(H2O)], potassium peroxydiphosphate [K4P2O8] and potassium chloride [KCl]. The SEM images indicate that calcite crystals grow to dipyramidal, octahedral-like, prismatic, and flower-like structures; meanwhile, calcium-magnesium bicarbonate structures show rhombohedral exfoliation and calcium oxalate monohydrate is present in a drusenoid morphology. These calcium carbonate compounds have a great importance for humans because their bioavailability. This is the first report about the identification and structural analysis of calcium carbonate and calcium-magnesium bicarbonate in nopal cladodes, as well as the presence of magnesium oxide, potassium peroxydiphosphate and potassium chloride in these plants. The significance of the study of the inorganic components of these cactus plants is related with the increasing interest in the potential use of Opuntia as a raw material of products for the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dra. Beatriz Millán-Malo, Dra. Genoveva Hernández Padrón and Dr. Rodrigo Esparza-Muñoz (UNAM-CFATA, Mexico) for their technical assistance in XRD, FTIR, and SEM analysis, respectively. Margarita Contreras Padilla would also like to thank CONACYT-Mexico for the financial support of her postdoctoral position at CFATA-UNAM.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Física Aplica y Tecnología avanzada, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 1-1010, Querétaro, Qro, C.P. 7600, Mexico

    Margarita Contreras-Padilla, Eric M. Rivera-Muñoz, Alicia Real del López & Mario Enrique Rodríguez-García

  2. División de Investigación y Posgrado, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas s/n, Las Campanas, C.P. 76010, Santiago de Querétaro, Qro, Mexico

    Margarita Contreras-Padilla & Elsa Gutiérrez-Cortez

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  1. Margarita Contreras-Padilla
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  2. Eric M. Rivera-Muñoz
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  3. Elsa Gutiérrez-Cortez
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  4. Alicia Real del López
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  5. Mario Enrique Rodríguez-García
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Correspondence to Eric M. Rivera-Muñoz.

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Contreras-Padilla, M., Rivera-Muñoz, E.M., Gutiérrez-Cortez, E. et al. Characterization of crystalline structures in Opuntia ficus-indica . J Biol Phys 41, 99–112 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10867-014-9368-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10867-014-9368-6

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