English Abstract
Abstract:
The aim of this work is to develop an effective extraction route for biological compounds from Opuntia
ficus indica seeds using two conventional methods: water bath shaker and agitation as well as a non-conventional one: microwave. The results indicate a significant effect of both temperature and time on the conventional extraction, with highest values for total phenolic content of 200 and 260 mg Gallic acid equivalent /100 g Dry matter (mg GAE/100 g DM) and for antioxidant activity of 22 and 24 mg GAE/100 g DM, obtained by water bath shaker and stirrer, respectively. However, the microwave extraction method under optimum conditions shows much better extraction efficacy with 300 and 43 mg GAE/100 g DM for total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, respectively. The efficiency of microwave technique could be a promising extraction tool of biological compounds from prickly pears seeds which could eventually be considered as an alternative source for synthetic antioxidants
