Structural characterization and antifungal activity of Algerian Opuntia ficus-indica polysaccharides: FTIR, GC-MS, colorimetric assays, and bioactivity data

This dataset comprises raw and processed Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra obtained via attenuated total reflectance (ATR) for six polysaccharide fractions extracted from Algerian <em>Opuntia ficus-indica</em> cladodes:

<strong>Mucilage 1 &amp; 2</strong> (water-soluble fractions)
<strong>Pectin 1 &amp; 2</strong> (hot water/EDTA-extracted)
<strong>Hemicellulose</strong> (alkali-extracted)
<strong>Cellulose</strong> (residual fraction)
<strong>Crude extract</strong> (unfractionated control)

<strong>Key Features:</strong>
<strong>- Spectral Range</strong>: 4000–400 cm⁻¹ at 4 cm⁻¹ resolution (32 scans)<br>
- <strong>Identified Functional Groups</strong>:

O–H stretching (3400 cm⁻¹)
Carboxylate C=O (1750 cm⁻¹, pectins)
β-glycosidic linkages (890 cm⁻¹)<br>
- <strong>Correlative Data</strong>: Monosaccharide composition (GC) and antifungal activity against <em>Penicillium sp.</em> are linked to spectral peaks.

<strong>Potential Applications:</strong>

Validation of plant polysaccharide extraction protocols
Structure-activity studies for natural antifungals
Comparative analysis of xerophytic plant adaptations

<strong>Technical Details:</strong>

<strong>Files Included</strong>:<br>

FTIR-DRAOU.xlsx spectra (wavenumber vs absorbance)
<strong>Instrument</strong>: Thermo Scientific FTIR spectrometer (OMNIC™ Software)

<strong>Ethics</strong>: No human/animal subjects involved.

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