Caracterização e estabilidade físico-química e bioquímica da mucilagem de Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck obtida com diferentes extratores

Abstract

The use of chemical solvents for bioprospecting cacti such as forage palm Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck has been common in academic studies for its applications in the industry. However, the usage of these solvents in large quantities, amplifies their polluting potential and makes their long-term usability impracticable by industries. Therefore, it was aimed to evaluate different extractors and the physicochemical and biochemical stability of the mucilage of forage palm, hydrated, and refrigerated. Cladodes of forage Palm were washed, weighed, cut into cubes, homogenized with organic solvents to (extractor 1 and extractor 2, which cannot be disclosed for patent reasons) obtain mucilage. The precipitate was kept in an oven for drying and it was pulverized with the aid of a mill, thus obtaining a dry powder. After this, the mucilage was hydrated and maintained at 5 ºC for 12 days. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design, in a 2x2 factorial scheme with four replications, as in two organic extractors and two evaluation days (0 and 12 days after storage at 5 ºC). The data obtained were submitted to ANOVA, and when significant they were subjected to the Tukey test at 5% probability. It was found that the mucilage yield did not differ between the tested extractors, although with extractor 2 the mucilage became slightly pigmented. Also, extractor 2 resulted in mucilage with higher mean values of citric acid and vitamin C, pH within the ideal range, lower mean values of electrical conductivity, and K+ content. The refrigerated storage time maintained the pH stability, total soluble proteins, Na+ content; total soluble carbohydrates, total phenolic compounds, citric acid, and soluble solids obtained using extractor 2. Thus, extraction with alternative solvent, extractor 2, has shown potential to be used to obtain mucilage for industrial purposes. However, further studies are needed, including the future production of mucilage films, for possible recommendations and agro-industrial applications.