Innovation in cacti extraction: Evaluating green methods for bioactive compounds

Abstract

The extraction of bioactive compounds from cacti using green methods holds promise as an area of research that remains relatively underexplored. This review aims to summarize findings and trends in this field, assessing the effectiveness of green techniques applied to these unique plants. Among the green methods, Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) stands out as the most extensively studied, consistently yielding a higher extraction of compounds irrespective of the duration and solvents employed. Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) emerges as the second most utilized technique, demonstrating efficacy in extracting a broad spectrum of bioactive compounds, particularly oils and various phenolics. Although Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE) has been the least used, preliminary studies indicate a potential that still needs to be explored. Notably, green methods offer reduced environmental impact by minimizing harmful solvents and optimizing energy consumption, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly processes and the increasing preference for natural and healthier products. The cacti most commonly studied beyond Opuntia spp. and Hylocereus spp. include cladodes, shells, and seeds. Despite advancements, numerous cactus species remain underexplored, underscoring the necessity for ongoing research to fully harness the promising potential of these plants in developing practical applications for bioactive compounds.

Keywords: Bioactive compounds; Cacti; Emerging technologies; Modern extraction techniques; Unconventional methods.