Betalains, polyphenols and antioxidant activity in minimally processed red prickly pear stored in controlled atmospheres

Abstract

The red prickly pear Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae) is an important source of bioactive and functional compounds, but has problems for its storage and commercialization. Therefore a study was done about controlled atmospheres effect upon the minimally processed fruit to conserve the antioxidant compounds at 5 °C during 16 days of storage. At the end of the storage period, we registered that the treatments with 5% O2 + 95% N2 and 10% CO2 + 5% O2 + 85% N2 maintained the level of betalains (125.6 mg l-1, 126.16 mg l-1) and antioxidant activity (263.7 ?mol Eq Trolox 100 ml-1, 267.6 ?mol Eq trolox 100 ml-1) compared to the initial evaluated content (116.1 mg 1-1, 270.4 ?mol Eq Trolox 100 ml mg 1-1). The polyphenols content did not change over treatment 5% O2 + 95% N2 (d0-16 ? 65.6 – 57.7 mg EAG 100 ml-1). The results show that even after 16 days of storage, with using controlled atmospheres, minimally processed prickly pear has high antioxidant activity because it keeps the betalains and polyphenols content.