Postharvest Profile, Processing and Waste Utilization of Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus Spp.): A Review.

Dragon fruit is a nutritious and wonderful exotic fruit cultivated throughout the arid regions of the globe, particularly Asian countries. The fruit with an attractive shape and magnificent color are refreshing with mouthwatering taste. It is abundant in vital nutritional ingredients viz. carotene, calcium, fiber, vitamin B, vitamin C, and phosphorous. The fruit is processed into numerous value-added products; however, that has been limited to small-scale processing industries. In addition to pulp processing, the utilization of by-products (peel, seed) will contribute to reducing waste disposal problems, imparts value to the product for food and other industrial applications. Further, extraction and application of bioactive compounds from fruit waste having the application for food fortification can enhance the overall efficacy of the process. This review highlights the technologies and processes adopted for the overall utilization of dragon fruit. Further to make rational usage of this valuable resource, systematic compilation and presentation of reported literature are required. Therefore, the present work was aimed towards the comprehensive utilization of this fruit through value addition approaches and by-product utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]