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.
Nopal cactus is employed in health, nutrition and cosmetics in the forms of tea, jam, juice and oil extracted from prickly pear seeds. It is used as a herbal remedy for diverse health problems in different countries. For instance, in the sub-Saharan traditional medicine pharmacopeia, cactus flowers and fruits are given as anti-ulcerogenic or antidiarrheal agents; flowers being also administered as an oral anti-hemorrhoid medication and cladode sap as a treatment for whooping cough. On the other hand, indigenous populations consume substantial amounts of either fresh or dry fruits as food. In these populations, cactus cladodes, fruits and flowers are featured for their interesting contents of antioxidants, pectin polysaccharides and fibers.
Cactus Plant Extract Function:
1.Regulating fat metabolism, inhibiting lipogenesis and promoting fat burning.
2. Decreasing cholesterol and fatty acids.
3.Inhibiting appetite and losing weight.
4.Garcinia cambogia extract With the function of Inhibiting glucose into fat to achieve weight loss;
5.Garcinia cambogia extract With the function of promoting fat burning, and transforming excess energy into glycogen
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