2.2. Extraction of the AV mucilage The tip, base, thorns and bark on both sides of the leaves were separated after cutting, washing and cooling. Semi-frozen pulp was placed in a commercial juice extractor Hamilton Beach® Health-Smart; then the juice was clarified in a tabletop centrifuge brand Heraeus Labofuge model 400/400 R to remove suspended solids; the juice was stored in sterilized jars at low temperatures (4 C).pH (AOAC, 1990), degrees Brix, refractometer (model RF-10-CAT), moisture (OHAUS, thermo-balance MB2000), and total solids (NMX-F-510-1998) were measured in the mucilage samples.