Proximate properties and phytochemical constituents of cactus pear plant extracts using different solvents

Abstract

This study investigates the proximate composition and phytochemical constituents of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) extracts obtained using 100 % water (WE), 50: 50% methanol: water (MWE), 100 % methanol (ME) extraction solvents and fresh cladodes (FC). The proximate and phytochemical analysis revealed significant (p<0.05) difference in the samples. The water methanol (WME) extraction solvents samples had higher amount of crude fibre, ash at 3.76 % and 6.26 % while FC samples had the lowest at 2.17 and 4.01 % respectively. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference between the water methanol (WME) extraction solvents and, methanol (ME) extraction solvents in crude protein and crude fat. High moisture content of observed in the fresh cladodes at 82.42 %. The phytochemicals constituents indicated that methanol-extracted samples exhibited the highest concentration of total phenolic and flavonoid content, suggesting superior antioxidant activity in the extract compared to other samples. These results highlight the potential of cactus pear plant extract which could be of use as a valuable ingredient in the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals