title: Physicochemical characterization of cactus pads from Opuntia dillenii and Opuntia ficus indica.
abstract: Physicochemical characteristics (weight, length, width, thickness, moisture, Brix degree, total fiber, protein, ash, pH, acidity, ascorbic acid, total phenolic compounds, P, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn and Cr) were determined in cactus pads from Opuntia dillenii and Opuntia ficus indica. The physicochemical characteristics of both species were clearly different. There were important differences between the orange and green fruit pulp of O. ficus indica; the cactus pads of O. dillenii could be differentiated according to the region (North and South). Consumption of cactus pads contributes to the intake of dietary fiber, total phenolic compounds, K, Mg, Mn and Cr. Applying factor and/or discriminant analysis, the cactus pad samples were clearly differentiated according to the species, the fruit pulp color and production region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Food Technology, and Food Science and Nutrition Area, University of La Laguna, 38201 La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors.forename: Lorena Pérez
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Méndez
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Food Technology, and Food Science and Nutrition Area, University of La Laguna, 38201 La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors.forename: Fidel Tejera
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Food Technology, and Food Science and Nutrition Area, University of La Laguna, 38201 La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors.forename: Jacinto Darias
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Food Technology, and Food Science and Nutrition Area, University of La Laguna, 38201 La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Food Technology, and Food Science and Nutrition Area, University of La Laguna, 38201 La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Electronic address: cdiaz@ull.es.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díaz Romero
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D003116:Color; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D029747:Opuntia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D013030:Spain; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008903:Minerals; D010636:Phenols; D014131:Trace Elements; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Cactus pads; Morphological parameters; Multivariate analysis; Nutrient intake; Physicochemical composition