Abstract

Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) pulp (CP) was encapsulated with a soybean protein isolate (SPI) and an SPI blend with maltodextrin (MD) or inulin (I). A 22 statistical factorial design for each system (CP-SPI, CP-(SPI+MD) and CP-(SPI+I)) was used. The independent variables were the CP/encapsulating agent ratio (1:1-5:1) and inlet air temperature (100-140°C), and the dependent variables were the polyphenol, betacyanin and betaxanthin encapsulation efficiencies. The CP total polyphenol, betacyanin and betaxanthin contents were 73.2±1.0mg gallic acid equivalent/100g, 22.4±0.31mg/100g and 7.6±0.12mg/100g, respectively. A 5:1 ratio of CP/encapsulating agent at 100°C and 140°C inlet air temperatures were the optimal conditions for the CP-SPI and CP-(SPI+MD) systems, respectively; for the CP-(SPI+I) system, the ratio and the inlet optimal air temperature were 4:1 and 105°C, respectively. The stability of the powders obtained under optimal conditions for each system was studied at 60°C in the dark. Increased polyphenols and decreased betalains were observed in all systems during storage, and the yellow pigments (betaxanthin) were more stable than the red pigments (betacyanin).