Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Total Phenols and Flavonoids Content of Four Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) Cultivars

Abstract

Opuntia ficus-indica is a cactus that is well adapted to harsh climatic conditions. It is an interesting source of food ingredients in the normal diet and of food industry. The present study aims at evaluating the some physical and morphological parameter cactus cultivars fruit, besides the phytochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of methanolic and ethyl acetate extract of four Opuntia ficus-indica cultivars. The present results revelead that the highest levels of phenol found in the ethyl acetate extract of Sanguinea and methanolic extract of Ain Jemaa. While ethyl acetate extract Ain Jemaa displayed significant elevated concentrations of total flavonoids and flavonols as compared with other cultivars. The findings of this study show that methanolic crude extracts exhibited a considerably broader antimicrobial activity compared to ethyl acetate extracts. The Moroccan cultivar has displayed the best antioxidant and antibacterial activity. The antioxidant activity found in juice extract of Maroco and Algeria cultivars are the highest, and is mainly due to beta-carotene, as demonstrated by principal component analysis, allowing the use of these fractions as sources of natural antioxidants.