Opuntia spp. in the textile industry

Abstract

The textile industry is one of the anthropogenic activities that most con- sume/pollute drinking water. Some of the synthetic dyes are highly toxic, muta- genic, and causing oxygen debilitation in water. The use of biocompatible chemicals started to be increased substantially over the last few years for its safety and health benefits to reduce environmental pollution. The use of eco-friendly dyes for textiles is highly appreciated because of the sustainability, biocompatibility, biodegradabil- ity, and various therapeutic advantage such as antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxi- dant properties. Plants belonging to the Opuntia genus are important natural sources that contain important natural dyes that can be used in the textile industry. The fruit contains dyes that belong to betalain skeletons and are responsible for yellow and red colours. These pigments can be used as a natural and safe alternative to synthetic colours. This chapter discusses the potential of Opuntia fruits’ different constituents in the textile industry.