손바닥 선인장(Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten)의 성분특성을 조사하여 식품으로의 이용 가능성을 검토하고자 하였다. 선인장과 알로에의 주성분은 가용성 무질소물이었다. 총무기질 함량은 선인장 줄기, 열매와 씨가 각각 9400.8, 6151.2와 1096.8 mg%이며, 주요 무기질은 Ca, P, Mg이었다. 주요 유리 아미노산은 선인장 열매인 경우 tyrosine, proline과 arginine이, 줄기는 glycine과 arginine이 씨의 경우 glutamic acid이었다. 총 아미노산중 주요 아미노산은 열매의 경우는 glutamic acid가, 줄기는 glycine과 arginine이었으며, 씨는 glutmic acid와 arginine이었다. 비타민 C는 열매와 줄기가 각각 163.8과 71.2 mg% 존재하나 씨에는 존재하지 않았으며, 비타민 A는 모든시료에서 검출되지 않았다. 총 폴리페놀 화합물과 플라보노이드 함량은 추출방법에 따라 다르며, 총 폴리페놀 화합물의 경우 선인장 열매가 줄기와 씨보다 함량이 높았으며, 총 플라보노이드 함량은 줄기와 열매에서 비슷하였다.
Attempts were made to determine the compositions of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten for the utilization as food materials. The major components of Opuntia ficus-indica and aloe in proximate compositions were nitrogen free extract. Total mineral contents of stem, fruit and seed of Opuntia ficus-indica were 9400.8, 6151.2 and 1096.8 mg%, respectively, and their major minerals were Ca, P and Mg. The major free amino acids of fruit were tyrosine, proline and arginine, those of stem were glycine and arginine and that of seed was glutamic acid. The major amino acid of fruit was glutamic acid, those of stem were glycine and arginine and those of seed were glutmic acid and arginine. Vitamin C contents of fruit and stem were 163.8 and 71.2 mg% but not presented in seed. Vitamin A was also not presented in fruit, stem and seed. Contents of total polyphenols and flavonoids were changed by extraction solvent and temperature. Total polyphenols of fruit were higher than those of stem and seed. Total flavonoids of fruit were similar to those of stem.
