Study of the antioxidant activity of cactus (opuntia dellienii)‎ fruits (pulp and peels)‎ and characterisation of their bioactive compounds by GC-MS

الملخص EN

The present study aims to identify and characterize the chemical compoundspresent in the extracts of cactus pear Opuntia dillenii (OD) fruit which grow in southern Iraqand offer different health benefits.

The physicochemical properties of the fruit juices (pulp andpeels) were investigated.

Fruit pulp and peel extracts carried the symbols: hexane pulp extract(HPuE), hexane peel extract (HPeE), ethanolic pulp extract (EPuE), and ethanolic peelsextract (EPeE).

The activel compound screened by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS).

HPuE and HPeE contained 40 bioactive compounds and 60 bioactive compoundswere detected in EPuE and EPeE.

The scavenging activity of DPPH free radicals records ahigh level of inhibition ranging from 34.8 to 90.3% for EPeE and from 32.9 to 89.9% forEPuE, while hexane extracts scavenging activities (HPeE and HPuE) were 24.9-78.9% and20.7-73.3% respectively at concentrations of 20 – 80 μg.

ml-1 this activity has receivedconsiderable attention because of their physiological functions.