Opuntia spp.: Chemistry, Bioactivity and Industrial Applications

Opuntia fruits, also known as cactus pears, are a promising and strategic crop in regions suffering from water scarcity due to their nutritive value, health-promoting benefits, and adaptability to different food processing applications. They are used for juices, marmalades, animal feed, cochineal dye, and commercial production of food and non-food products. Opuntia spp.: Chemistry, Bioactivity and Industrial Applications provides a comprehensive overview of the potential of Opuntia cactus for sustainable development.

Format: Hardback
Length: 1059 pages
Publication date: 27 September 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

The Opuntia fruits, commonly known as cactus pears or prickly pears, have been identified by the Food and Agriculture Organization as a promising and strategic crop in regions facing water scarcity. These fruits have gained popularity in Mexico, India, South Africa, and the Mediterranean due to their nutritional value and numerous health-promoting benefits. Opuntia fruits possess antioxidant, antiulcerogenic, and antiatherogenic properties, as well as protective effects against LDL oxidation. Additionally, they contain readily absorbable sugars, high vitamin C content, and a pleasant flavor, making them ideal for developing novel foods.

Opuntia fruits offer numerous ecological advantages, high functional value, and health-related traits, making them highly exploitable in various food processing applications. For instance, Opuntia cactus fruits are used to prepare juices and marmalades, Opuntia cactus plants are used as animal feed in African and Latin American countries, Peruvian farmers cultivate Opuntia cactus for extracting cochineal (Dactylopius coccus) insect and producing natural dye carmine, and commercial production of food and non-food products derived from Opuntia has been established in Mexico, the United States, and several Mediterranean countries.

Opuntia spp.: Chemistry, Bioactivity, and Industrial Applications serves as a multidisciplinary platform for discussing Opuntia cactus, with a special focus on its horticulture, post-harvest, marketability, chemistry, functionality, health-promoting properties, technology, and processing. The text delves into the impact of traditional and innovative processing techniques on the recovery of high-added-value compounds from Opuntia spp. by-products. Subsequent chapters explore the potential applications of Opuntia spp. in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.

In conclusion, Opuntia fruits, due to their unique characteristics and numerous health benefits, have emerged as a promising crop in regions facing water scarcity. Their versatility in food processing applications, along with their ecological advantages and functional value, make them highly exploitable in various industries. The multidisciplinary forum provided by Opuntia spp.: Chemistry, Bioactivity, and Industrial Applications fosters discussion and exploration of the potential applications of Opuntia cactus in horticulture, post-harvest, marketability, chemistry, functionality, health-promoting properties, technology, and processing, contributing to its sustainable exploitation and utilization.

Weight: 1759g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030784430
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021