Abstract
Functional properties of mucilage and pigment extracted from Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten were determined at various temperatures, pHs and alcohol concentrations. The crude mucilage extracted from pickly pear showed pH 4.2, 0.14% total acidity and 8.1% total soluble solid content(w/w, wet basis). Polysaccharide was purified from mucilage extract by isopropanol precipitation. Intrinsic viscosity of polysaccharide was 18.1dl/g and decreased with increasing KCl concentration. Relative viscosity and color stability of mucilage extract were determined with capillary viscometer and spectrophotometer at 534nm, respectively. In additions of 1~20%(v/v) ethanol, the red pigment of mucilage extract was very stable, but relative viscosity, increased gradually. For heating above 7$0^{\circ}C$, the stability of red pigment decreased drastically, but rheological property of mucilage was not changed. During storage, the red pigment was extremely unstable at above pH 8.3. At both pH 3.0 and pH 4.2, the red pigment was the most stable at 4$^{\circ}C$ for 18 days. In the case of storage at 37$^{\circ}C$, pigment of mucilage extract at pH 3.0 was destroyed more quickly than that at pH 4.2. Natural mucilage extract(pH 4.2) showed the good stability of red pigment at 3$0^{\circ}C$ for 10 days.
