Volatile compounds and anatomical features of Opuntia sp. cladodes

The cactus pear is belongs to the Cactaceae family Opuntia. The cladodes are known as nopalitos, are frequently consumed and used in folk medicine due to their beneficial effects and phytochemical composition. Cactus in Tunisia is mostly localized in areas characterized by low quality soils and water scarcity. In this study we evaluate the amount of phytochemicals compounds by spectrophotometric methods and volatile compounds on the powder obtained from Opuntia microdasys Lehm. (O. microdasys) and Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm. (O. macrorhiza) cladodes were investigated by HS-SPME-GC-MS and anatomical structure of cladodes was identify by light microscopy. We determined the total phenols, flavonoids, flavonols, tannins and o-diphenols compounds by colorimetric methods. The most important compound found in the cladodes of O. microdasys is limonene (11.20 %), while O.macrorhiza was mainly rich in camphor (49.10 %). The highest contents of phytochemicals compounds were found in the cladode of O. microdasys. Light microscopy revealed the presence of a high number of calcium oxalate crystals in fresh cladodes.