FRUIT CACTUS INGREDIENTS (OPUNTIA FICUS INDICA) INCORPORATED INTO THE DIETARY PRODUCTS USED AS FOOD SUPPLEMENTS OR OTC

Opuntia ficus indica je vrsta kaktusa koja pripada familiji Cactaceae. Ova familija kaktusa obuhvata oko 200 podvrsta kaktusa koji su rasprostranjeni najviše u Americi. Najčešću kulinarsku primjenu ima Indijska Fig Opuntia (Opuntia ficus indica ), jer se njeni listovi i plodovi koriste kao svježe salate. Plod kaktusa se konzumira zreo u ljetnom periodu. Najviše su rasprostranjeni na zapadnoj hemisferi (Meksiko) i zapadnim dijelovima Amerike, ali mogu se naći i u drugim dijelovima svijeta (Galapagos ostrva, Australija, Mediteran). Prva istraživanja Opuntia ficus indica započela su ispitivanjem sastava listova, a zatim i plodova u pogledu diuretskih efekata, a preliminarne studije su pokazale diuretska i antioksidativna svojstva koja su usko vezana za konzumaciju svježeg ploda. Biološki aktivni sastojci preparata koji se koriste u suplementima hrane ili OTC dobiveni su postupnim tehnološkim procesom usitnjavanja, presovanja, klarifikacije i vakum evaporacije ploda Opuntia ficus indica . Dobivena praškasta forma ploda Opuntia ficus indica sadrži ukupno 65-85 % betalaina i to u obliku idiksantin i betanin. Rezultati navedeni u literaturi, dobijeni u različitim studijama sprovedenim na pacovima, pokazali su pozitivan efekat primjene praškaste forme kaktusovog ploda (Opuntia ficus indica). Pozitivni rezultati dokazuju veoma značajan nutricionisticki benefit ploda kaktusa Opuntia ficus indica , upravo zbog klinički dokazanih efekata. Sva otkrivena i dokazana svojstva ploda kaktusa Opuntia ficus indica zaslužuju značajnu pažnju primjene ovog ploda kod diuretskih bolesti, antioksidativne zaštite organizma kao i očuvanju normalne tjelesne težine.Opintia ficus indica is a species of cactus that belongs to the family of Cactaceae. This family includes about 200 subspecies of cacti that are most abundant in America. The most common culinary use has Indian Fig Opuntia (Opuntia ficus indica ), because of its leaves and the posibility for useage as fresh salads. Cactus fruit is consumed ripened in the summer. Most are widespread in the Western Hemisphere (Mexico) and west parts of America, but can be found in other parts of the world (Galapagos Islands, Australia, Mediteran). The first research Opuntia ficus indica have begun examining the composition of leaves and then fruit in terms of diuretic effects. Preliminary studies showed diuretic and antioxidant properties that are closely related to the consumption of fresh fruit. Biologically active constituents of preparations used in food supplements and OTC were obtained by gradual technological process of chopping, pressing and clarification, and vacuum evaporation of fruit of Opuntia ficus indica . The resulting powder form of Opuntia ficus indica fruit contains a total of 65-85% betalaine in form and idixanthin betanin. The results given in the literature, obtained in studies conducted on rats, showed a positive effect of powdered fruit (Opuntia ficus indica ). Positive results show a very significant benefit of nutrition of fruit cactus Opuntia ficus indica , precisely because of these clinically proven effects. All discovered and proven properties of cactus fruit deserve considerable attention to the application of this fruit in diuretic disease, antioxidant protection and preservation of the organism as a normal body weight

With food to health : proceedings of the 10th International scientific and professional conference

Proceedings contains 13 original scientific papers, 10 professional papers and 2 review papers which were presented at "10th International Scientific and Professional Conference WITH FOOD TO HEALTH", organised in following sections: Nutrition, Dietetics and diet therapy, Functional food and food supplemnents, Food safety, Food analysis, Production of safe food and food with added nutritional value