The prickly pear cactus fruit has many health benefits!
Cactus Research Study - 1"cactus pear inhibits the proliferation of cervical, ovarian and bladder cancer cell lines..."Nutritional and medicinal use of Cactus pear cladodes and fruits.Source: September 2006, Frontiers in Bioscience, 11, 2574-2589. By: University of Arizona's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Institute of Food Technology, Plant Foodstuff Technology, Hohenheim University, Stuttgart, Germany. SUMMARY: Anti-cancer: based on recent studies cactus pear inhibits the proliferation of cervical, ovarian and bladder cancer cell lines in vitro and suppresses tumor growth in nude mice in vivo comparable to synthetic retinoid retinamide, which is currently used as a chemopreventive agent in ovarian cancer chemoprevention. Anti-oxidant properties: The presence of several antioxidants (ascorbic acid, carotenoids, reduced glutathione, cysteine, taurine and flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin) has been detected in cactus pear. Recently the antioxidant properties of betalains (betanin and indicaxanthin) have been revealed in prickly pear. Polyphenolics are antioxidants with well-known cardioprotective, anticancer, antiviral and antiallergenic properties. Cactus polyphenolics induse a rise of the intracellular pool of calcium ions from the endoplasmic reticulum and thus perturb the expression of the interleukin 2, which is associated with the S-phase transition in human Jurkat T-cells. Anti-viral effect: Study demonstrated that administration of a cactus stem extract to mice, horses, and humans inhibits intracellular replication of a number of DNA- and RNA-viruses such as Herpes simplex virus Type 2, influenza virus, and HIV-1. An inactivation of extra-cellular viruses was also reported by the same authors. Anti-inflammatory agent: Numerous studies have evocated the analgesic and anti- inflammatory actions of the prickly pear by using the fruit and stems. The research identified beta-sistosterol as the active anti-inflammatory principle from the stem extract. Anti-diabetic 2 (type 2) effect: Studies have demonstrated hypoglycemic activity of the prickly pear on diabetic humans. Anti-hyperlipidemic and hypercholesterolemic effects: Evidence suggest that cactus pear reduces cholesterol levels in human blood and modifies low density lipoprotein (LDL) composition. Studies found that cholesterol LDL and triglyceride plasma levels were strongly reduced after 30 days of daily administration of cactus. The effects of cactus are generally attributed to the high fiber content of the cladodes, although other active ingredients (such as beta-carotenes, vitamin E and beta-sistosterol) may be involved. Further benefits: While the cactus fruit has been traditionally used to treat ulcers, allergies, fatigue, and rheumatism and as an antiuric and diuretic agent, research has found alleviating effects toward alcohol hangover symptoms were associated with reduced inflammatory responses after excessive alcohol consumption. Amongst the flavonoids extracted from the cactus fruit or stem, quercetin 3-methyl appears to be the most potent neuroprotector. Cactus Research Study - 2"the prickly pear extract alone maintained normoglycemic state in the diabetic rats."Augusto Trejo-Gonzáleza, Genaro Gabriel-Ortizb, Ana María Puebla-Pérezb, María Dolores Huízar-Contrerasb, María del Rosario Munguía-Mazariegosa, Silvia Mejía-Arreguínb and Edmundo Calvac, Corresponding Author Contact Information a Department of Biotechnology, CIIDIR-IPN, Justo Sierra 28, 59510 Jiquilpan, Michoacan, Mexico b Division of Experimental Pathology, Western Branch of Biomedical Research, IMSS, Sierra Mojada 800, 44250, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico c Department of Biochemistry, CINVESTAV-IPN, P.O. Box 14-740, 07000, Mexico, D.F., Mexico Received 7 June 1996; revised 22 July 1996; accepted 23 July 1996. ;Available online 12 December 1997. Abstract The hypoglycemic activity of a purified extract from prickly pear cactus (Opuntia fuliginosa Griffiths) was evaluated on STZ-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels were reduced to normal values by a combined treatment of insulin and Opuntia extract. When insulin was withdrawn from the combined treatment, the prickly pear extract alone maintained normoglycemic state in the diabetic rats. The blood glucose response to administered glucose also showed that the rats receiving the combination treatment of insulin and Opuntia extract for 7 weeks followed by Opuntia extract alone were capable of rapidly returning blood glucose to the levels of the nondiabetic rats. Although the mechanism of action is unknown, the magnitude of the glucose control by the small amount of Opuntia extract required (1 mg/kg body weight per day) preclude a predominant role for dietary fiber. These very encouraging results for diabetes control by the purified extract of this Opuntia cactus make the need for clinical studies in humans evident. Cactus Research Study - 3Wolfram R, Budinsky A, Efthimiou Y, Stomatopoulos J, Oguogho A, Sinzinger H. Department of Angiology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Prickly pear is traditionally used by Pima Indians as a dietary nutrient against diabetes mellitus. We examined the effect of daily consumption of 250 g in 8 healthy volunteers and 8 patients with mild familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia on various parameters of platelet function. Beside its action on lipids and lipoproteins, prickly pear consumption significantly reduced the platelet proteins (platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin), ADP-induced platelet aggregation and improved platelet sensitivity (against PGI2 and PGE1) in volunteers as well as in patients. Also plasma 11-DH-TXB2 and the WU-test showed a significant improvement in both patients and volunteers. In contrast, collagen-induced platelet aggregation and the number of circulating endothelial cells showed a significant response in patients only. No influence of prickly pear ingestion on peripheral platelet count was monitored. The dietary run-in period did not influence any of the parameters of haemostasis examined. No sex difference was seen. Prickly pear may induce at least part of its beneficial actions on the cardiovascular system via decreasing platelet activity and thereby improving haemostatic balance. PMID: 12878452 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Research Information RequestReturn Cactus Research to Nopalea
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