Exploring xoconostle by-products as sources of bioactive compounds.

Agroindustrial by-products derived from fruit processing are an important source of bioactive compounds that can be used as functional food ingredients. The genus Opuntia embraces different species of cactus, and many of them produce acidic fruits known as xoconostle, which are considered valuable foods in Latin America. Xoconostle fruit contains an edible thick-acid-freshly mesocarp, and seeds packed in a mucilaginous structure that together with the skin are considered by-products constitutes the endocarp. Given the high potential of its commercial use and consumption in Mexico, as well as the lack of information about its detailed chemical composition and bioactive compounds, the aim of this study was to evaluate the composition in bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of the skin and mucilaginous part surrounding the seeds of the xoconostle fruit ( Opuntia joconostle F.A.C. Weber ex Diguet, cv. Cuaresmeño). These by-products stand out due to their high tocopherol content (mainly in epicarp), linoleic and citric acids (mainly in endocarp), and isorhamnetin O -hexoside di-ramnoside (mainly in epicarp), with high antioxidant properties. In the light of these results, xoconostle fruit cv. Cuaresmeño should be considered of great interest as a source of bioactive compounds for incorporation in other food products, so that all the bioactives present are fully used, instead of being discarded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]