Title
Pitahaya (Hylocereus spp.): Culture, physicochemical characteristics, nutritional composition, and bioactive compounds
Date Issued
01 July 2020
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Publisher(s)
Universidad Nacional de Trujillo
Abstract
The Pitahaya, commonly known as "dragon fruit", is a fruit originating in Central America and the Peruvian jungle whose fruit can be of different colors such as yellow, purple, red and white. This fruit has a high nutritional value, highlighting the content of ascorbic acid that is between 4-25 mg / 100g depending on its species, with the highest value being the red species. Pitahaya is a fruit with a high antioxidant capacity, even superior to that of other cacti, such as prickly pear. It presents bioactive compounds such as betalains; that favor stress-related disorders and have anti-inflammatory effects, it also has betanins and betacyanins; they are a source of natural dye. This review work aimed to collect information on the studies carried out on the Pitahaya related to its cultivation, physicochemical characteristics, nutritional composition, and bioactive compounds, for their health benefits, such as; avoid premature aging, reduce blood pressure levels and alleviate stomach and intestinal problems, and the consumption of pitahaya is recommended to counteract diseases such as diabetes and colon cancer.
Start page
439
End page
453
Volume
11
Issue
3
Language
Spanish
OCDE Knowledge area
Nutrición, Dietética
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85090562308
Source
Scientia Agropecuaria
Resource of which it is part
Scientia Agropecuaria
ISSN of the container
20779917
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus