Sanky

RESEARCH

CHEMICAL AND NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF COPAO FRUIT
(Eulychnia acida PHIL.) UNDER THREE ENvIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
IN THE COqUIMbO REgION
Lilia Masson S. 1*, María Angélica Salvatierra g.2, Paz Robert C.1, Cristian Encina A.1,

and Conrado Camilo M.1

Copao (Eulychnia acida Phil.) is an endemic arborescent cactus restricted mainly to the semi-arid Coquimbo Region
(29°54’28” S,71°15’15” W), Chile. The area of distribution is from sea level to 1200 m.a.s.l. The edible fruit called rumpa
is generally round, with green or pink peel and small scales on its surface, showing wide variability in size and weight.
The aim of this work was to characterize the rumpa harvested in January 2009 and 2010 in three sectors of Coquimbo
Region to determine chemical and nutritionalcomposition in three fractions: pulp with seeds, juice, and peel. The research
showed that this fruit is a good natural source of mainly soluble dietary fiber, which has a jellied texture and is present in
the three fractions analyzed: 2% for juice, 3% for pulp with seeds, and approximately 5% for peel, making it potentially a
good source of hydrocolloids for the food industry. The fruit is also agood source of vitamin C; around 55 mg 100 g-1 in
peel, and 30 mg 100 g-1 in pulp with seeds and juice, values considered high compared to 18 mg 100 g-1 for prickly pear
(Opuntia ficus-indica [L.] Mill.) The main minerals were: K, Mg, Ca, and P. Total polyphenols and betalain pigments were
also determined in the pulp with seeds and pink peel fractions, respectively. The nutritionalcharacteristics, together with its
high water content of around 96%, make rumpa a promising raw material for agro-industrial development of natural juices
or isotonic drinks. This characterization helps in the recovery of an endemic native species by reducing potential threats to
destroy wild populations of E. acid, especially near agricultural areas, and by promoting habitat conservation of the species
inthe region.
Key words: Rumpa, arborescent cactus, vitamin C, minerals.

T

he cactaceae family is xerophile and its cultivation
has been commercially developed since the midtwentieth century. This family is native to Central
Mexico, where the largest germplasm variability is found
(Nefzaoui et al., 2008). Traditional Mexican medicine has
historically used fruits or flowers of cactuscladodes to
reduce serum cholesterol levels, regulate blood pressure,
control gastric disturbances, and treat various diseases
such as gastric ulcers, glaucoma, capillary fragility,
rheumatic pains, etc. (Muñoz de Chávez et al., 1995;
Domínguez-López, 1995; Gurrieri et al., 2000; Nefzaoui
et al., 2008). Nopal fruits (Opuntia ficus-indica [L.]
Mill.) are not only nutritious, but also a goodsource of
functional components such as soluble dietary fiber,
betalain and carotenoid pigments, minerals, and other
compounds, such as highly appreciated antioxidants and

Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas,
Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Grasas y Aceites, CIDGRA,
Vicuña Mackenna 20, Santiago, Chile.
*
Corresponding author (masson_lilia@yahoo.es).
2Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias INIA, Apartado Postal 36-B,
La Serena, Chile.
Received: 3 March 2011.
Accepted: 10 August 2011.
1

gastro protective products. This is a real advantage for
using this species as a source of bioactive compounds in
the development of new functional foods (Sáenz, 2006;
Nefzaoui et al., 2008).
Eulychnia is a genus present in Peru and Chile(Ritter,
cited by Nyffeler et al., 1997), of which copao (Eulychnia
acida Phil.) is an endemic species of arid regions,
widely distributed in Coquimbo. It grows especially on
hillsides facing north, from sea level up to 1200 m.a.s.l.
(Bustamante, 1996). The fruit, called rumpa, is round or
slightly elongated, with green or pink peel with very small
scales. It presents a great variability in...