Functional properties and bioactive compounds of Opuntia mucilage under different irrigation regimes and its use as an additive in an edible coating

Edén A. LUNA-ZAPIÉN; Jorge A. ZEGBE; Jolanta E. MARSZALEK; Víctor M. RODRÍGUEZ-GONZÁLEZ; Erick SIERRA-CAMPOS; Juan A.  ASCACIO-VALDÉS; Jorge A. MEZA-VELÁZQUEZ

doi:10.15835/nbha53314608

Authors

Edén A. LUNA-ZAPIÉN Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Av. Artículo 123 s/n, Gómez Palacio, Durango, C. P. 35010 (MX)
Jorge A. ZEGBE Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Campo Experimental Pabellón, km 32.5 Carretera Aguascalientes-Zacatecas, Pabellón de Arteaga, Aguascalientes, C. P. 20670 (MX)
Jolanta E. MARSZALEK Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Carretera Torreón-Matamoros km 7.5, Torreón Coahuila, C. P. 27276 (MX)
Víctor M. RODRÍGUEZ-GONZÁLEZ Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Av. Artículo 123 s/n, Gómez Palacio, Durango, C. P. 35010 (MX)
Erick SIERRA-CAMPOS Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Av. Artículo 123 s/n, Gómez Palacio, Durango, C. P. 35010 (MX)
Juan A. ASCACIO-VALDÉS Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Departamento de Investigación en Alimentos, Boulevard Venustiano Carranza, Col. República Oriente 935, Saltillo Coahuila, C.P. 25280 (MX)
Jorge A. MEZA-VELÁZQUEZ Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Av. Artículo 123 s/n, Gómez Palacio, Durango, C. P. 35010 (MX)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha53314608

Keywords:

Antioxidants, cladodes, film , polyphenolic compounds, technological properties

Abstract

Nopal (Opuntia) varieties ‘Amarilla Olorosa’ ‘Cristalina’, ‘Dalia Roja’ and ‘Roja Lisa’ were subjected to three irrigation treatments: without irrigation (WI), supplementary irrigation (SI) (field capacity 0.28 m³ m^-3 and 0.14 m³ m^-3 permanent wilt point), and complete irrigation (CI) (100 % of crop evapotranspiration) for ~4 months. Mucilage was extracted from harvested cladodes for evaluation of swelling, water retention capacity (WRC), solubility, oil retention capacity (ORC), total polyphenol content (TPC), polyphenol profile, and antioxidant capacity. The highest swelling rates were found in the mucilage of ‘Roja Lisa’ and ‘Crystalline’ WI. The mucilage of ‘Roja Lisa’ WI presented the highest WRC and solubility. The highest ORC values were exhibited by the mucilage from ‘Amarillo Olorosa’ and ‘Dalia Roja’ CI. Likewise, the mucilage of 'Cristalina’ SI showed the highest TPC and antioxidant capacity. Phloretin, pterostilbene, and sinensetin were identified in the mucilage of the four varieties of nopal. Also, edible films of sodium alginate, fortified with Cristalina WI mucilage, were made. To improve the mechanical properties and nutritional composition of the coatings, edible films of sodium alginate were produced and enriched with Cristalina WI mucilage. The coatings presented low opacity and permeability to water vapor. Thus, limiting water to cactus plants could be a viable strategy to produce functional and bioactive mucilage that can be used as edible coating material for fruits and vegetables.

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