Exploring Hylocereus spp and Its Potential Applications: A Review
Nur Syaza Iman Muhamad Salleh, Hairul Amani Abdul Hamid, Nursyamsyila Mat Hadzir, Siti Wahidah Puasa, Noraini Hamzah, Ayub Md Som

School of Chemistry & Environment, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
Industrial Process Reliability and Sustainability Research Group (INPRES), College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

Abstract

This review plans to provide an overview of the Hylocereus spp as a whole, focusing on their morphology, how they are propagated and cultivated, what are the optimum conditions for them to be propagated and cultivated in, their nutritional and medicinal benefits, and the application of these plants in different industries such as cosmeceuticals, food and beverage, wastewater treatment, and its potential uses in oil and gas industry. Pitaya is becoming increasingly popular as a staple crop in different countries across various regions from Central America to Asia due to its rich nutritional make-up making it an excellent source of dietary fiber, vitamins, fructose, and minerals. Moreover, cultivators are attracted to this plant species due to their relatively high yield and the crop^s longevity, with one plant lasting up to 25-30 years. At the moment, there is very little information on maximising the full potential of this plant^s uses and benefits to consumers and industries across the world. Hence, this review may provide a guideline and detailed background to develop a better understanding of the pitaya plant including the fruits as well as the by-products, and expand the market and its applications in different industries.

Keywords: Hylocereus spp, Hylocereus Undatus, White Dragon Fruit, Pitaya

Topic: Biomaterials, Tissue engineering, Pharmaceuticals Industry