Review on the pharmacological and health aspects of Hylocereus or Pitaya: An update

Abstract

The need for fresh fruit and vegetables in the community is increasing, this is due to research which states that the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables can reduce the likelihood of disease. Hylocereus spp or dragon fruit is a medicine plant belonging to the Cactaceae family. The distinctive morphology found in dragon fruit is the shape of the skin which corresponds to the oval body shape. Dragon fruit can grow well in dry areas. Phytochemicals in dragon fruit or pitaya include carbohydrates, protein, saponin phenolic compounds, terpenoids, oils, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, coumarin, and steroids. Meanwhile, nutritional analysis shows that the fruit contains complete nutrition, including vitamins, fat, crude fiber, and minerals. Based on previous research, dragon fruit has been proven to be used as an alternative ingredient for antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antoxidant, antulcer, antipertility, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, hypopolidemic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and anti-platelet Keywords:  Hyolocereus, medicine, phytochemistry, pharmacology.