Pitahaya Peel: A By-Product with Great Phytochemical Potential, Biological Activity, and Functional Application
Sandra N. Jimenez-Garcia,
Lina Garcia-Mier,
Xóchitl S. Ramirez-Gomez,
Humberto Aguirre-Becerra,
Alexandro Escobar-Ortiz,
Luis M. Contreras-Medina,
Juan F. Garcia-Trejo,
Ana A. Feregrino-Perez
Affiliations
Sandra N. Jimenez-Garcia
División de Ciencias de la Salud e Ingeniería, Campus Celaya-Salvatierra, C.A. Enfermedades no Transmisibles, Universidad de Guanajuato, Av. Ing. Javier Barros Sierra No. 201 Esq. Baja California, Ejido de Santa Maria del Refugio Celaya, Guanajuato 38140, Mexico
Lina Garcia-Mier
Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Valle de México, Campus Querétaro, Blvd, Juriquilla No. 1000 A, Delegación Santa Rosa Jáuregui, Santiago de Querétaro 76230, Mexico
Xóchitl S. Ramirez-Gomez
División de Ciencias de la Salud e Ingeniería, Campus Celaya-Salvatierra, C.A. Enfermedades no Transmisibles, Universidad de Guanajuato, Av. Ing. Javier Barros Sierra No. 201 Esq. Baja California, Ejido de Santa Maria del Refugio Celaya, Guanajuato 38140, Mexico
Humberto Aguirre-Becerra
División de Estudios de Posgrado, C.A. Bioingeniería Básica y Aplicada, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, C.U. Cerro de las Campanas S/N, Colonia Las Campanas, Santiago de Querétaro 76010, Mexico
Alexandro Escobar-Ortiz
Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, C.U. Cerro de las Campanas S/N, Colonia Las Campanas, Santiago de Querétaro 76010, Mexico
Luis M. Contreras-Medina
División de Estudios de Posgrado, C.A. Bioingeniería Básica y Aplicada, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, C.U. Cerro de las Campanas S/N, Colonia Las Campanas, Santiago de Querétaro 76010, Mexico
Juan F. Garcia-Trejo
División de Estudios de Posgrado, C.A. Bioingeniería Básica y Aplicada, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, C.U. Cerro de las Campanas S/N, Colonia Las Campanas, Santiago de Querétaro 76010, Mexico
Ana A. Feregrino-Perez
División de Estudios de Posgrado, C.A. Bioingeniería Básica y Aplicada, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, C.U. Cerro de las Campanas S/N, Colonia Las Campanas, Santiago de Querétaro 76010, Mexico
Hylocereus spp. present two varieties of commercial interest due to their color, organoleptic characteristics, and nutritional contribution, such as Hylocerous polyrhizus and Selenicerus undatus. The fruit recognized as dragon fruit or Pitahaya is an exotic fruit whose pulp is consumed, while the peel is discarded during the process. Studies indicate that the pulp has vitamin C and betalains, and seeds are rich in essential fatty acids, compounds that can contribute to the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases (cancer, hypertension, and diabetes). In the present study, polyphenolic compounds, biological activity, and fatty acids present in the peel of the two varieties of pitahaya peel were evaluated, showing as a result that the variety S. undatus had higher antioxidant activity with 51% related to the presence of flavonoids 357 mgRE/g sample and fatty acids (hexadecanoic acid and linoleate) with 0.310 and 0.248 mg AG/g sample, respectively. On the other hand, H. polyrhizuun showed a significant difference in the inhibitory activity of amylase and glucosidase enzymes with 68% and 67%, respectively. We conclude that pitahaya peel has potential health effects and demonstrate that methylated fatty acids could be precursors to betalain formation, as well as showing effects against senescence and as a biological control against insects; in the same way, the peel can be reused as a by-product for the extraction of important enzymes in the pharmaceutical and food industry.
