Functional Properties of Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit Peels Undergoing Supplemental Irrigation and Fruit Storage Conditions

Prickly pear cactus fruit peels have been seen as organic waste. This study explored the effect of supplemental irrigation during fruit growth of 'Roja Lisa' (Opuntia ficus-indica) prickly pear cactus on the antioxidant, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties of peel extracts from fruits collected at harvest and after storage conditions. The treatments were non-irrigated and supplemental irrigation and the storage conditions were cold or room temperature, and freshly harvested fruit. After each fruit quality evaluation, peels from each treatment combination were pooled and the concentrations of phenolic compounds, inhibition of an in vitro digestive enzyme, antioxidant capacity, and in vivo hypoglycemic (- control = 268 mg/dL versus fruit peel extracts = 204 mg/dL at 30 min) and hypolipidemic (- control = 203 mg/dL versus fruit peel extracts = 148 mg/dL at 30 min) properties were determined. Therefore, fruit peels could potentially be harnessed for human health benefits, instead of treated as organic waste.