Ultrasound-assisted “Green” extraction improves phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the peel, pulp, and seeds of Brazilian cactus fruit (Cereus sp.)

Cereus sp., commonly known as mandacaru, is a cactus native to the Brazilian semi-arid region, traditionally used as forage, for ornamental purposes, and in folk medicine.
Its succulent fruits have gained attention due to their rich nutritional and bioactive properties.
This study compared conventional extraction (CE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) to assess the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of dried peel, pulp, and seed powders from Cereus fruits.
The UAE method, using water and ethanol/water (60%), outperformed CE in all fruit parts.
The peel and seed extracts from UAE showed the highest TPC (1320.28 and 1314.44 mg GAE 100 g^‑1), while the pulp extract had the highest TPC using aqueous UAE (196.94 mg GAE 100 g^‑1). Antioxidant activity was also higher in UAE extracts, with the seed extract showing the highest ABTS value (117.03 µM TE mg^‑1). These results highlight the potential of UAE as a superior extraction method for optimizing the recovery of phenolic compounds and enhancing the antioxidant properties of Cereus fruits.
The use of such bioactive-rich extracts could contribute to the development of functional foods and phytotherapeutics, offering a sustainable way to utilize the nutritional potential of Brazilian cactus fruits.

XI International Congress on Cacti as Food, Fodder and Other Uses

E. dos Santos, B.S. Martines Batista, N. Marques da Silva, R. Guttierres Gomes, C. Aparecida Mangolin, M.F.P. da Silva Machado

Cereus fruit, mandacaru, ultrasound-assisted extraction, bioactive compounds, phenolic compounds, antioxidants, cacti as food, functional foods

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2026.1452.51