• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.711-717
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• 2016

Opuntia humifusa fruits were investigated. The length of minor and major axis, and weight of O. ficus-indica and O. humifusa fruits were compared as the morphological features. The characteristics of components such as color, moisture, crude protein, ash, fat, dietary fiber, mineral, and amino acids were evaluated. The values of O. ficus-indica fruits were higher than those of O. humifusa fruits in each morphological feature such as minor axis, major axis, and weight. According to the Hunter color index results, O. humifusa fruits showed higher values of L (lightness) and b (yellowness), whereas O. ficus-indica fruits showed higher value of a (redness). The ${\Delta}E$ value between two samples was 19.80. The O. ficus-indica fruits had higher carbohydrate content and lower content of crude ash than those of O. humifusa fruits. Both samples showed very high dietary fiber contents, and the major minerals were K and Ca. Glutamic acid was the major amino acids in both samples. In free amino acids contents, O. ficus-indica had higher tyrosine and lower glutamic acid level than those of O. humifusa fruits. ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid was found in both samples, whereas taurine was found in O. ficus-indica fruits only. Taken together, the morphological features and chemical quality of O. ficus-indica and O. humifusa fruits showed difference although both of them were originated from the same genus.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2010

Fermentation characteristics of yakju prepared with addition of Opuntia ficus indica were examined, with respect to the nature and concentration of additional added materials. The pH level began to decrease after the secondary brewing stage and the total acid content increased during fermentation. The level of reducing sugars in yakju prepared with Opuntia ficus indica increased at the first brewing stage and then slowly decreased after 4 days of fermentation. The ethanol content of supplemented yakju rapidly increased during the initial 6 days of fermentation, to a maximum content of 17.1% after 14 days. The free sugar content was higher in yakju fermented with Opuntia ficus indica stem compared with fruit. The level of organic acids increased as the amount of Opuntia ficus indica material increased. Organic acid level increased during fermentation and lactic acid was the main organic acid in yakju fermented with Opuntia ficus indica. Sixteen volatile compounds were found by GC-MS in supplemented yakju. The most prominent volatile component was iso-amyl alcohol, followed by butyl alcohol and methyl esters. The DPPH radical-scavenging activity of yakju fermented with Opuntia ficus indica stem was higher than when yakju was prepared with fruit. Sensory scores of yakju fermented with 20% (w/v) fruit and 10% (w/v) stem were greater than those of yakju prepared by other treatments.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.3 s.76
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• pp.477-484
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• 2006

This study was performed to know the potentialities of the fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica, as a medium for mushroom mycelial culture. Five mushroom mycelial (Agrocus blazei, Grifola frondosa, Hericium erinaceum, Innonotus obliquus, Phellinus linteus) were frown on the malt extract broth (MEB) and the cactus broth medium (CB). The submerged culture mixtures were extracted using equal volume of ethyl acetate, and their extract yields, total polyphenol contents, and some physiological activities were compared with each other Each extract from mycelial culture grown on CB medium showed remarkable enhancement in physiological activities compared with each counterpart grown on MEB. Among five mycelial cultures grown on CB medium, the extract yield and polyphenyl content were highest in the extract from Grifola frondosa (extract yield, 0.4 g/L and polyphenol content, 22.7%). Also, the extracts from Grifola frondosa showed the highest physiological activities, such as DPPH radical scavenging ($IC_{50}=362.9{\mu}g/ml$), xanthine oxidase inhibition (about 80% at $500{\mu}g/ml$), and superoxide radical scavenging (about 80% at $500{\mu}g/ml$), and NO production inhibition ($IC_{50}=43.1{\mu}g/ml$) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. This result suggests that the fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica can be used as a culture medium for improving the functional properties of various mushroom mycelia.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 2002

Different amounts of the Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten fruit were soaked in different alcohol concentrations of a Korean rice wine distillate for 4 months. Changes in pH, brix degree, contents of reducing sugar and polyphenol compound, alcohol concentration, turbidity, and color were analyzed during the soaking period. Quality of the final product was determined through the analysis of the volatile flavor compounds and sensory evaluation. During the soaking periods, pH, alcohol concentration, and contents of polyphenol compound decreased, whereas the content of reducing sugar increased. These changes were affected more by the content of the fruit than the alcohol concentration of the soaking media. Turbidity of the wine increased with higher fruit contents, while the increase of alcohol concentration resulted in the turbidity decrease. As the soaking period increased, lightness and yellowness increased but redness decreased. Acetaldehyde, acetyl acetone, ethyl alcohol, guaiacol, thymol, and acetic acid phenyl ester were detected in all liquors. Significant differences in all sensory attributes test were shown by six experimental groups (p<0.05), and the best overall acceptability was obtained from the liquor made of 67% fruits and 30% alcohol concentration.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.613-619
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• 2000

The author examined whether the methanol extracts of Opuntia ficus-indica fruit and Saururus chinensis have the inhibitory action on xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO)-, $FeCl_2/ascorbic$ acid- and arachidonic acid-induced neurotoxicity in mouse cortical cell cultures. The methanol extracts ($10\;{\mu}g/ml{\sim}1\;mg/ml$) of Opuntia ficus-indica and Saururus chinensis were exhibited 53-89% and $48{\sim}100%$ inhibitory action on X/XO-induced neurotoxicity, respectively. At the range of same concentration, both extracts also attenuated the $FeCl_2/ascorbic$ acid-induced neurotoxicity by $35{\sim}100%$ and $15{\sim}98%$, respectively. In arachidonic acid neurotoxicity, the methanol extract (1 mg/ml) of Opuntia ficus-indica and Saururus chinensis reduced neuronal injury by 22% and 38%, respectively. These results suggest that Opuntia ficus-indica fruit and Saururus chinensis may contribute the neuroprotection in certain free radical-mediated neuronal injury.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.3 s.130
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• pp.238-244
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• 2002

The extracts from stem and fruit of Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten Makino) were applied to confirm the antiatherosclerotic effects in subacute alcoholic hyperlipidemic rats. It was observed that several indications of hyperlipidemia were prevented or changed by the treatments of the extracts but activities of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase and alcohol dehydrogenase were not affected, which suggest that the extracts may promote the fecal excretion and delay the absorption of alcohol in hyperlipidemic rats.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.3 s.130
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• pp.230-237
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• 2002

Prickly pear(Opuntia ficus-indica var saboten Makino, Cactaceae) is widely used as folk medicine for burned wound, edema and indigestion. To confirm the hypolipidemic action of the extract from Cactus stem and fruit in dietary hyperlipidemic rats, variations of the lipid- or cholesterol-related components were investigated. As results these changes were significantly prevented by treatments with Cactus extracts. The effects of the extract of fruit was better than those of stem.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 1998

The Opuntia ficus-indica extract(OFE) has been claimed to have several therapeutic properties including anti-inflammation and anti-rheumatoid arthritis in oriental medicine but little is known about their effect on macrophages. This study demonstrated that OFE could stimulate TNF-alpha production in cultured macrophages. which is one of important mediators in autoimmune diseases including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE). In vivo study showed that oral administration of OFE exacerbate the onset of clinical paralysis. This finding suggests that OFE stimulates cytokine production and exacerbates autoimmune inflammatory diseases including EAE.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.412-415
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• 2000

We have examined radical scavenging effects, tyrosinase inhibition activities and anti-allergic activities on the methanol extracts of Opuntia ficus-indica cultivated in Cheju island. By the comparison of the four samples, methanol and 50% methanol extracts of respective fruits and stems of Opuntia, the most desirable activities were obtained in the sample of the stem's methanol extracts. Based on this analysis, further study to identify the active components in this sample is warranted.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.1132-1136
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• 2010

After Cheonnyuncho (Opuntia humifusa) was extracted by 70% ethanol and partitioned with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water in order, ethyl acetate fraction with excellent antioxidant activities was acquired. Ethyl acetate fraction was conducted by TLC, and the third spot of 10 spots was selected due to its best antioxidant activities. When the third fraction further isolated on silica gel chromatography, the fourth fraction of 10 fractions had the best antioxidant activities and purified by HPLC. The molecular weight on EI-MS, and $^1H$- and $^{13}C$-NMR spectrum showed that the purified compound was taxifolin. In addition, antioxidant activities were analyzed, and the purified compound from Cheonnyuncho was found to be effective as much as $\alpha$-tocopherol, BHA. According to the analysis on antibacterial activities, the purified compound also showed more activity than benzoic acid against all pathogenic bacteria.