Prickly pear seed: from vegetable fiber to advanced applications: A review

Abstract

The prickly pear seed is a part rich in fatty substances; it can be exploited for the extraction of oils for food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and medical use. The focus of this review is to define one of the most expensive oils in the world "Prickly Pear Seed Oil" (PPSO). Its method of obtaining by cold pressing of its seeds makes it rich in active ingredients. For this, we will present a description of the cactus plant and its botanical classification, its chemical composition for either the pulp, the bark, or the seed. The morphology of the seed and its different applications, in addition to the seeds oil, presents extraordinary properties.