Antioxidant Activity and Seasonal Variations in the Composition of Insoluble Fiber from the Cladodes of <i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> (L.) Miller: Development of New Extraction Procedures to Improve Fiber Yield
Rosamaria Caminiti,
Maria Serra,
Saverio Nucera,
Stefano Ruga,
Francesca Oppedisano,
Federica Scarano,
Roberta Macrì,
Carolina Muscoli,
Ernesto Palma,
Vincenzo Musolino,
Giancarlo Statti,
Vincenzo Mollace,
Jessica Maiuolo
Affiliations
Rosamaria Caminiti
IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Maria Serra
IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Saverio Nucera
IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Stefano Ruga
IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Francesca Oppedisano
IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Federica Scarano
IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Roberta Macrì
IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Carolina Muscoli
IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Ernesto Palma
IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Vincenzo Musolino
Laboratoy of Pharmaceutical Biology, IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Giancarlo Statti
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87100 Cosenza, Italy
Vincenzo Mollace
IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Jessica Maiuolo
Laboratoy of Pharmaceutical Biology, IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller is a plant belonging to the Cactaceae family adapted to live in environments characterized by long periods of drought and arid or desert climates. This plant is characterized by an aerial part composed of structures transformed by branches, called “cladodes”, which are essential to reduce excessive perspiration of water and appear covered with thorns. The composition of the cladodes includes water, polysaccharides, fiber, proteins, vitamins, fatty acids, sterols, polyphenols, and minerals. The main purposes of this scientific work are (a) to compare the insoluble fiber (IF) extracted from the cladodes of O. ficus-indica belonging to the same plant but collected in different seasonal periods (winter and summer) and develop new extraction protocols that are able to improve the yield obtained and (b) evaluate the antioxidant potential of the fiber and study possible variations as a result of the extraction protocol chosen. The first objective was achieved (1) by measuring the amount of IF extracted from cladodes harvested in winter and summer (CW and CS, respectively) and (2) by modifying three variables involved in the fiber extraction protocol. To achieve the second objective, the following experiments were carried out: (1) measurement of the antioxidant potential of IF in CW and CS; (2) measurement of cellular reactive oxygen species; (3) measurement of the activity of some antioxidant enzymes; and (4) comparison of the polyphenol content in CW and CS. In conclusion, the results obtained showed that the IF extraction process can be improved, achieving a uniform yield regardless of seasonality; the antioxidant effect may vary depending on the extraction protocol.
