Nopal Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) as a Source of Bioactive Compounds for Nutrition, Health and Disease
Opuntia ficus-indica, commonly referred to as prickly pear or nopal cactus, is a dicotyledonous angiosperm plant. It belongs to the Cactaceae family and is characterized by its remarkable adaptation to arid and semi-arid climates in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. In the last decade,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2014-09-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/19/9/14879 |
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| author | Karym El-Mostafa Youssef El Kharrassi Asmaa Badreddine Pierre Andreoletti Joseph Vamecq M'Hammed Saïd El Kebbaj Norbert Latruffe Gérard Lizard Boubker Nasser Mustapha Cherkaoui-Malki |
| author_facet | Karym El-Mostafa Youssef El Kharrassi Asmaa Badreddine Pierre Andreoletti Joseph Vamecq M'Hammed Saïd El Kebbaj Norbert Latruffe Gérard Lizard Boubker Nasser Mustapha Cherkaoui-Malki |
| author_sort | Karym El-Mostafa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Opuntia ficus-indica, commonly referred to as prickly pear or nopal cactus, is a dicotyledonous angiosperm plant. It belongs to the Cactaceae family and is characterized by its remarkable adaptation to arid and semi-arid climates in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. In the last decade, compelling evidence for the nutritional and health benefit potential of this cactus has been provided by academic scientists and private companies. Notably, its rich composition in polyphenols, vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids and amino acids has been highlighted through the use of a large panel of extraction methods. The identified natural cactus compounds and derivatives were shown to be endowed with biologically relevant activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial and neuroprotective properties. The present review is aimed at stressing the major classes of cactus components and their medical interest through emphasis on some of their biological effects, particularly those having the most promising expected health benefit and therapeutic impacts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:19:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3c8db6b9f6774fc39e0f5c1146110f98 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:19:12Z |
| publishDate | 2014-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-3c8db6b9f6774fc39e0f5c1146110f982022-12-22T00:04:15ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492014-09-01199148791490110.3390/molecules190914879molecules190914879Nopal Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) as a Source of Bioactive Compounds for Nutrition, Health and DiseaseKarym El-Mostafa0Youssef El Kharrassi1Asmaa Badreddine2Pierre Andreoletti3Joseph Vamecq4M'Hammed Saïd El Kebbaj5Norbert Latruffe6Gérard Lizard7Boubker Nasser8Mustapha Cherkaoui-Malki9Laboratoire Bio-PeroxIL, EA7270 University of Bourgogne, 6 Bd Gabriel, Dijon F-21000, FranceLaboratoire Bio-PeroxIL, EA7270 University of Bourgogne, 6 Bd Gabriel, Dijon F-21000, FranceLaboratoire Bio-PeroxIL, EA7270 University of Bourgogne, 6 Bd Gabriel, Dijon F-21000, FranceLaboratoire Bio-PeroxIL, EA7270 University of Bourgogne, 6 Bd Gabriel, Dijon F-21000, FranceInserm and HMNO, CBP, CHRU Lille, Lille 59037, FranceLaboratoire de recherche sur les Lipoprotéines et l'Athérosclérose, Faculté des Sciences Ben M'sik, Avenue Cdt Driss El Harti BP. 7955, Université Hassan II-Mohammedia-Casablanca, Casablanca 20 000, MoroccoLaboratoire Bio-PeroxIL, EA7270 University of Bourgogne, 6 Bd Gabriel, Dijon F-21000, FranceInserm and Laboratoire Bio-PeroxIL, EA7270 University of Bourgogne, 6 Bd Gabriel, Dijon F-21000, FranceLaboratoire de Biochimie et Neurosciences, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Hassan I, BP 577, Settat 26 000, MoroccoLaboratoire Bio-PeroxIL, EA7270 University of Bourgogne, 6 Bd Gabriel, Dijon F-21000, FranceOpuntia ficus-indica, commonly referred to as prickly pear or nopal cactus, is a dicotyledonous angiosperm plant. It belongs to the Cactaceae family and is characterized by its remarkable adaptation to arid and semi-arid climates in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. In the last decade, compelling evidence for the nutritional and health benefit potential of this cactus has been provided by academic scientists and private companies. Notably, its rich composition in polyphenols, vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids and amino acids has been highlighted through the use of a large panel of extraction methods. The identified natural cactus compounds and derivatives were shown to be endowed with biologically relevant activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial and neuroprotective properties. The present review is aimed at stressing the major classes of cactus components and their medical interest through emphasis on some of their biological effects, particularly those having the most promising expected health benefit and therapeutic impacts.http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/19/9/14879anti-inflammatoryantioxidantscell signalingOpuntia ficus-indicapolyphenols |
| spellingShingle | Karym El-Mostafa Youssef El Kharrassi Asmaa Badreddine Pierre Andreoletti Joseph Vamecq M'Hammed Saïd El Kebbaj Norbert Latruffe Gérard Lizard Boubker Nasser Mustapha Cherkaoui-Malki Nopal Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) as a Source of Bioactive Compounds for Nutrition, Health and Disease Molecules anti-inflammatory antioxidants cell signaling Opuntia ficus-indica polyphenols |
| title | Nopal Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) as a Source of Bioactive Compounds for Nutrition, Health and Disease |
| title_full | Nopal Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) as a Source of Bioactive Compounds for Nutrition, Health and Disease |
| title_fullStr | Nopal Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) as a Source of Bioactive Compounds for Nutrition, Health and Disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nopal Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) as a Source of Bioactive Compounds for Nutrition, Health and Disease |
| title_short | Nopal Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) as a Source of Bioactive Compounds for Nutrition, Health and Disease |
| title_sort | nopal cactus opuntia ficus indica as a source of bioactive compounds for nutrition health and disease |
| topic | anti-inflammatory antioxidants cell signaling Opuntia ficus-indica polyphenols |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/19/9/14879 |
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