This article was developed thanks to the funding of Cienciactiva, an initiative of the National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation (CONCYTEC). Contract No. 227-2015-FONDECYT. Thanks to the authorities and staff of PNP Huaraz Polyclinic for the support provided to the SERUMS staff to carry out this study (May 2012-May 2013). Thanks to the personnel of the company Innovation and Development for the support in the design of the study and the logistics and, to Rogelio Martínez Diez of the University of Valladolid-Spain for collaborating in the writing of the manuscript.

Red pitahaya (Hylocereus guatemalensis) peel is a by-product of pulp and juice production, which is often underutilized due to the lack of scientific information on how to preserve it in a manner that minimally affects its bioactive compounds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of hot air drying on the total phenolic content (TFC) and antioxidant capacity (AC) by DPPH radical scavenging (%) of red pitahaya peel. The peel was separated from the pulp, cut into four equal parts and subjected to hot air drying. Drying was carried out at temperatures of 40, 50, 60, 60, 70, 80 and 90 °C for a period of 1 080 min. The peel was ground (particles < 850 μm), the extract (50 mg/mL) was obtained using 80% methanol as solvent, and the TPC and AC were determined. The influence of drying temperature was significant (p<0.05) on TPC and AC as drying temperature increase of 40 ...

Red pitahaya (Hylocereus guatemalensis) peel is a by-product of pulp and juice production, which is often underutilized due to the lack of scientific information on how to preserve it in a manner that minimally affects its bioactive compounds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of hot air drying on the total phenolic content (TFC) and antioxidant capacity (AC) by DPPH radical scavenging (%) of red pitahaya peel. The peel was separated from the pulp, cut into four equal parts and subjected to hot air drying. Drying was carried out at temperatures of 40, 50, 60, 60, 70, 80 and 90 °C for a period of 1 080 min. The peel was ground (particles < 850 μm), the extract (50 mg/mL) was obtained using 80% methanol as solvent, and the TPC and AC were determined. The influence of drying temperature was significant (p<0.05) on TPC and AC as drying temperature increase of 40 ...