A review on utilization of red dragon fruit peel as prebiotic and natural ingredient / Nurul Ain Esa

The waste utilization of the fruit processing industries has arisen as one of the challenging elements in the globe due to the production of enormous volumes of byproducts, such as peels, seeds, and discarded flesh. Fruit peel is thought to make up at least 20% of the weight of fresh fruit. Fruit peels are regarded as an important dietary fiber source and are expected to function well as prebiotics. In this review, the chemical composition, natural and prebiotic properties of red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) peel are comprehensively scrutinized. These peels are rich in water, nutrients, fiber, including abundance of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant. The potential health benefits of these bioactive and natural compounds as prebiotics and other value-added products are discussed. This study provides insight on the development of the products and the bioactive compounds from dragon fruit peels for human use.