Opuntia robusta mucilage combined with alginate as encapsulation matrix for Lactiplantibacillus plantarum

Figures & data

Figure 1. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of mucilage from wild Opuntia robusta at 250x (a), 1000x (b) and 5000x (c).

Table 1. Mineral composition of mucilage powder determined by Energy Dispersive X-rays Spectroscopy. Data are presented as mean (n = 3) ± SD.

Element content (%)	Mean value ± SD
C	47.6 ± 3.7
O	38.9 ± 1.9
Mg	1.6 ± 0.8
Cl	1.3 ± 0.4
K	8.8 ± 4.3
S	1.8 ± 0.3

Figure 2. Macroscopic shape of microcapsules obtained from alginate (Alg) and from alginate-mucilage mixtures at different ratios (AM 2:1, AM 1:1, and AM 1:2).

Figure 3. Graphs of (a) Sizes and (b) Weights of the microcapsules made from alginate (Alg) and alginate-mucilage mixtures (AM 2:1, AM 1:1). The results are presented as mean (n = 50) ± SD.

Table 2. Encapsulation efficiency and viability after three months of L. plantarum 1449 in Alg and AM mixtures.

Encapsulating agent	EE (%)	Viability (%)
Alg	94.5 ± 0.8^b	75.1 ± 2.5^a
AM 2:1	93.9 ± 0.6^b	79.5 ± 1.8^b
AM 1:1	96.1 ± 0.5^a	77.2 ± 2.4^a,b
AM 1:2	93.1 ± 1.9^b	ND

Different letters in the same column indicate statistical differences (p < .05). Data are presented as mean (n = 3) ± SD.

Figure 4. Color parameters: (a) L*, (b) a* and (c) b* of the microcapsules made from Alg and AM 2:1, AM 1:1 and AM 1:2 mixtures. L*, a*, and b* data are the mean of measured values (n = 5) ± SD. Different letters for each color parameter indicate statistical differences (p < .05).

Table 3. Color parameters (L*, a*, b*and ΔE*) of the obtained microcapsules. The data are the mean of measured values (n = 5) ± SD.

Parameter	Alg	AM 2:1	AM 1:1	AM 1:2
L*	73.72 ± 1.48^a	72.63 ± 0.16^a	69.39 ± 0.24^b	69.55 ± 0.79^b
a*	1.65 ± 0.33^a	1.62 ± 0.16^a	1.17 ± 0.29^a,b	1.02 ± 0.32^b
b*	1.22 ± 0.24^a	1.96 ± 0.48^b	4.13 ± 0.15^c	6.06 ± 0.70^d
ΔE*	—	1.32	5.24	6.42

Note: The ΔE* value corresponds to the total color difference between Alg and each of the AM mixtures. Different letters in the same row for each color parameter indicate statistical differences (p < .05) between the three mixtures AM compared with Alg.