Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. and Annona cherimola Mill. by-products: a potential to be exploited

摘要

Introduction: Fruits have become increasingly important in human nutrition because of their nutrient and bioactive composition, as well as potential beneficial health effects. Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. and Annona cherimola Mill. are commonly known as prickly pear and cherimoya, respectively. These exotic fruits are highly appreciated due to their attractive sensorial properties [1]. However, considerable quantities of by-products from the production of these fruits are discarded, and these can be a valuable source of bioactive compounds. Therefore, this study aims to perform a comparison between the antioxidant activity, total phenolics, total flavonoids and vitamin C contents of the peels of prickly pear and cherimoya, in order to evaluate their potential to obtain added value natural extracts.