Chemical analysis of opuncia (Opuntia spp.) oil

Amal Tali-Maamarová

Bakalářská práce

Abstract:

With the current impact of global warming, the number of countries facing drought and water shortages is increasing. This also leads to many food security challenges. Opuntia spp. was often an underestimated crop therefore due to the changing climate, it has been studied to understand the valuable advantages and utilisation potential that this drought-resistant crop has to offer. To valorise Opuntia and broaden the knowledge about the benefits of its extremely valuable seed oil, this study aimed to determine, identify, and compare bioactive compounds of commercially available Opuntia ficus-indica seed oil with Opuntia ficus-indica seed oil extracted from its fruits originating from differing countries by the solvent-based Soxhlet extraction method. Samples were analysed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. In total, 15 fatty acids were detected. The results also confirmed the presence of the dominating fatty acids linoleic, oleic, stearic, palmitoleic and behenic acid. Results between the samples differed and considerable deviations in concentrations were found in comparison with literature data.

Keywords

Opuntia, seed oil, GC/MS, health benefits, prickly pear, fatty acids

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 20. 4. 2024

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Obhajoba proběhla 28. 5. 2024
• Vedoucí: doc. Ing. Klára Urbanová, Ph.D.
• Oponent: Kateřina Vihanová, Ing.

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Fakulta tropického zemědělství

Bakalářský studijní program:
International Cooperation in Agricultural and Rural Development