Research Progress and Development of Pitaya Flower

Originated in the Central America, pitaya have been spread for cultivation in 20 countries or regions. Pitaya flower has many medical benefits such as lowering blood pressure, lung-nourishing, beauty care, etc. Pitaya have a long period of flowering and produce a huge number of pitaya flower each year. The recent research and developments of pitaya are reviewed in terms of planting area and cultivars as well as the biological characteristics and functional constituents of pitaya flower and pilot trial of pitaya flower products. Essential amino acids and medical amino acids were evaluated nutritionally based on the available data. The evaluation showed that pitaya flower contained limited amount of Met+Cys amino acids and large amount of Leu and Try amino acids and similar amount of Ile, Phe+Tyr and Thr amino acids to the pattern spectrum which FAO/WHO revised in 1973. A good prospect for development of pitaya flower is also described.