Vol. 25, No. 3 (2026), Alim26867 https://doi.org/10.24275/rmiq/Alim26867

Valorization of dragon fruit (Selenicereus undatus L.) cladodes as source of functional flour: effect of drying conditions and maturity stage

 

Authors

L. M. Aguilar-Veloz, M. Tellez-Orosco, M. E. Ramos-Cassellis, Y. Velazquez-Juárez, J. V. Tamariz-Flores, C. R. Camarillo-Rojas, J. A. Olguín-Rojas

Abstract

Pitahaya cladodes have been already identified as material with some interesting biological activities. However, it remains an underutilized waste from periodic pruning. This study investigated the production of functional flours from cladodes of pitahaya (Selenicereus undatus L.), evaluating the effect of maturity stage (tender and mature) and convective drying temperatures (30, 45, and 60 °C). Proximate composition analysis showed that tender cladodes (TC) have a significantly higher amount of crude fiber on dry basis (36.0 ± 3.44 %) compared to mature cladodes (MC) (21.49 ± 2.69 %). Drying kinetics were characterized by a predominantly falling-rate period, with experimental data showing the best fit for the Page model for drying at 60 and 45 °C and Midilli model for 30°C (R² > 0.99), indicating that temperature was the main driver of mass transfer (effective diffusivity range 1.636 - 7.160 10-8 m²/s) regardless of maturity stage (activation energy of 40.75 and 38.42 kJ/mol, for MC and TC respectively). The techno-functional properties of flours were significantly influenced (p<0.05) by the processing conditions. Water-holding capacity (WHC) reached  maximum value at 60 °C (760.00 ± 11.70 %) in the MC flour, while solubility decreased with increasing temperature. Colorimetric analysis showed that higher temperatures and advanced maturity led to a reduction in lightness (L*) and an increase in chroma (C*). These technical results provide the foundation for closing the production loops of pitahaya cultivation and reducing environmental impac. The conversion of pruning waste into value-added resources supports the economic and environmental sustainability of producing regions.

Keywords

Hylocereus undatus, circular bioeconomy, mathematical modeling, functional flours, agro-industrial waste.

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