# Nutritional composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Opuntia ficus-indica (L) Miller cladodes and fruits

## TL;DR

This study explores the nutritional and bioactive properties of Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes and fruits, showing their potential as natural sources of antioxidants and antimicrobial agents.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes and fruits.

## Key findings

- Cladodes and fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica have high dietary fiber and protein content.
- Cladode extracts show strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.
- Cladode extracts have higher antioxidant potential than fruit extracts.

## Abstract

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller is an arid-adapted species native to Mexico that is rich in dietary fiber and bioactive compounds, making it valuable for applications in food, medicine, and animal feed. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the nutritional and bioactive properties of cladodes and fruits from this species. Proximate composition analysis revealed that both cladodes and fruits have high moisture content and low lipid and carbohydrate levels. They also provide dietary fiber (4.470 to 7.720 g/100 g), protein (0.623 to 1.033 g/100 g), and minerals (0.893 to 0.840 g/100 g), thereby enhancing their nutritional profile. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated that extracts from fruits and cladodes possess significant inhibitory activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and molds. Notably, the cladode extract demonstrated strong activity against Staphylococcus aureus, suggesting potential for use in food preservation and therapeutic applications after additional studies. Phytochemical analyses confirmed the presence of coumarins, steroids, and terpenoids in both cladode and fruit extracts, whereas tannins were not detected. Antioxidant activity showed that cladode extracts have significantly higher antioxidant potential than fruit extracts, particularly in total phenolic content (11.919 mg Gallic acid equivalents/g) and ferric reducing capacity (1.561 µmol Trolox equivalents/g), suggesting that cladodes may serve as a source of natural antioxidants. Overall, these findings suggest that O. ficus-indica cladodes and fruits may be promising sources of bioactive compounds for functional food applications, highlighting the importance of further research to better characterize their composition and associated properties.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11130-026-01478-0.