ELUCIDATION OF THE PHYSIOCHEMICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF Opuntia ficus-indica CLADODES FROM VARIOUS REGIONS IN ALGERIA

Abstract

Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) belongs to the Cactaceae family grown in arid regions, including Algeria. Various parts of OFI have been widely used in different countries for their therapeutic properties. Due to the lack of scientific evidence, the consumption of OFI cladodes remains still limited. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and phytochemical properties of OFI cladodes from various harvesting areas in Algeria. Qualitative phytochemicals analysis was measured by following the standard methods, antioxidant activity was measured by the DPPH method, and quantification of secondary metabolites and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) tests were conducted using spectrophotometric methods respectively. The study revealed that cladodes from Medea station showed a significant yield, however, the content of ash, lipids, and potassium significantly differed from one region to another. While compared to the other stations, the phytochemical study showed that the ethanolic extract of cladodes from the Ain Temouchent station had significant levels of total polyphenols and flavonoids, hydrolyzable tannins and condensed tannins, steroids, alkaloids, and triterpenoids, respectively. Moreover, all of the extracts from different regions contained a significant amount of strong antioxidant activity. It can be concluded that the OFI cladodes contain a significant amount of phytochemicals and strong antioxidant activities, which could lead to new opportunities in various sectors including health, cosmetic, and food sectors.