Antioxidant components and nutritional quality of 15 genotypes of Xoconostle (Opuntia spp.)

Abstract

This study determined nutritional quality, content of antioxidant compounds and antioxidant
activity in the rind (mesocarp) of the fruit of 15 genotypes of xoconostle to identify those that
have greater nutraceutical potential. A proximal analysis was conducted. Contents of
betalain, total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity were
quantified. The data obtained were analyzed with an analysis of variance (ANOVA), the
Tukey test (P ? 0.05) and the Pearson coefficient of correlation. Significant differences in the
proximal composition and antioxidant compounds were found among the 15 genotypes. The
genotype Cambray had the highest total content of betalains (35.06 mg 100 g-1 f.w.). The
antioxidant activity observed in the other genotypes may be due to a synergetic effect of the
presence of total betalains, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and vitamin C. The wild
genotype Chaveñito (O. sainaltense), which had the highest percentage (95.88 %) of
inhibition of the DPPH radical (indicating greater antioxidant activity), can be considered the
genotype with the best nutraceutic quality.