Fat in Vietnamese Nopal cactus seeds is higher than that of Germany

Fatty oils of cactus seeds are high-value fatty oils and have many applications in food and cosmetics.

Scientists from Polytechnic University (VNU-HCM) and Hanoi Polytechnic University have taken seeds from red ripe fruits of Nopal cactus grown in Ninh Hai district, Ninh Thuan province and conducted fatty oil separation. .

The results obtained fatty acid content of fatty oil from cactus seeds from 63.62% - 69.06%. Comparing the fatty acid content of cactus fat with other oils from other grains such as corn (59%), cotton seeds (49-58), soybean seeds (51%), and dahlia seeds (78 %), poppy seeds (70%), olive oil (10%), palm oil (10%), sunflower seeds (68%), grape seeds (73%), sesame seeds (45%) . can found that fatty acids in fatty oil cactus seeds are quite high.

Nopal cactus. (Photo: rfviet.com).

In particular, when comparing the fatty acid content obtained from Ninh Thuan Nopal cactus seed fat with the fatty acid content obtained from cactus fat of some countries, it is found that: equivalent to Tunisian oil (about 70% ), but higher than German oil (53%) by more than 10% and much higher than oil in China (3%).This type of acid is very good for health, completely indispensable for metabolism in the body without being able to produce this kind of acid.

Dr. Tran Thuong Quang, Hanoi Polytechnic University, said that the fat of cactus seeds is often used to prevent some diseases such as cancer, dermatitis, diabetes, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, stroke, antioxidant, analgesic and industrial use in making soap, cosmetics, emulsifiers, .

According to the research team, the fatty oil of cactus seeds is a high-value fatty oil and has many applications in food and cosmetics. However, in Vietnam cactus seeds have not been interested in research and exploitation. Currently, Ninh Thuan province has planted about 50 thousand Nopal cactus from Mexico.

Nopal cactus originated from the Americas. This species has a wide canopy frame, formed from the branches. Under natural growth conditions, Nopal cacti can be 3-5m high, 3-4m wide spread. Leaves are 30-60cm long, 2-3cm thick; fruit cylindrical 8 - 9cm long, ripe fruit sweet.