abstract
- Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) seeds are a rich source of functional lipids, yet research on Mexican cultivars remains limited. This study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of lipids extracted through subcritical fluid and supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide (SCE-CO¿ and SFE-CO¿) from Mexican OFI Villanueva and Rojo Vigor seeds with and without enzymatic pretreatment. SCE OFI Villanueva oil showed higher extraction efficiency of linoleic (45.86 mg/g), and oleic (9.86 mg/g) acids purified more than 5.47 and 1.18 times, respectively. Additionally, SCE oils exhibited the highest antioxidant potential (68 %) and anti-inflammatory activity (45 %) at the evaluated doses. In conclusion, SCE-CO¿ enhanced the extraction efficiency of unsaturated fatty acids, improving their potential biological effects, while enzymatic pretreatment did not positively impact on results, suggesting reduced extraction efficiency and bioactivity. These findings suggest that OFI seeds can serve as a valuable source of functional ingredients for the development of value-added food products. © 2024