title: Phytochemicals, nutritionals and antioxidant properties of two prickly pear cactus cultivars (Opuntia ficus indica Mill.) growing in Taif, KSA.
abstract: The antioxidant properties, some phytochemicals and nutritionals were characterized in two prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus indica Mill.) cultivars; red and yellow; growing in Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The antioxidant properties of red cactus cultivar were higher than the yellow cactus cultivar. Linear correlation appeared between the antioxidant properties and total phenolics. All samples nearly have the same quantity of iron, copper, sodium and potassium. Some phenolic compounds were detected by HPLC-UV analysis. HPLC-RI analysis of all samples revealed the absence of sucrose and the presence of glucose and fructose. According to the above results, this study gave a good indication about the nutritional and pharmaceutical potential of the two cactus cultivars that must be widespread cultivated in arid and semiarid regions as KSA accompanying with establishment of industries beside the cactus farms that used all parts of plants.
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Analysis Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Saudi Arabia; Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt. Electronic address: shzssayed@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: El-Sayed S
authors.initials: el-SS
authors.lastname: Abdel-Hameed
authors.affiliation: Plant Production Department, Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Suez Canal University, El Arish, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nagaty
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Analysis Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mahmood S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Salman
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Analysis Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Salih A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bazaid
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D029747:Opuntia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010636:Phenols; D064209:Phytochemicals
keywords: Antioxidant properties; HPLC-RI; HPLC-UV; Nutritionals; Phytochemicals