• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.526-534
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• 2013

This study was conducted to examine the effects of Opuntia ficus-indica complex (OF) on the lipid metabolism, bile acid in feces, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, aspatate aminotransferase (AST) activity, composition of urine and expression of cholesterol related mRNA in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Thirty two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into non-diabetic control (NC), diabetic control (DC), diabetic OF of 2% (OF-2) and diabetic OF of 5% (OF-5), then each group was fed for 3 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) were decreased significantly (p<0.05) in OF-5 group compared to DC, but high density lipoprotein (HDL) was not changed. AST and ALT were also reduced and bile acid excretion was improved. Composition of urine in OF-5 was almost same in NC. The expression of cholesterol $7{\alpha}$-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA-R), Low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) mRNA indicated that feeding OF have the effects of cholesterol decreation in plasma by synthesis of bile acid from cholesterol. These results provide experimental evidence about improved lipid metabolism of the OF feeding in the STZ-induced diabetic rats.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.115-121
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• 2007

Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten (Cactaceae) is widely cultivated in Jeju Island (South Korea) for use in the manufacture of health foods such as tea, jam and juice. Its fruit and stem have been traditionally used as oriental folk medicine to treat diabetes, hypertension, asthma, burns, edema and indigestion. During the search for naturally occurring antioxidative neuroprotective agents, it was found that the ethyl acetate fraction of the stems and fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten exhibited potent antioxidant effect. Using a chromatographic fractionation method, several constituents were isolated from this fraction. Among isolates, KYS50182 showed the most potent in vitro and in vivo neuroprotective activities, suggesting that the flavonoid can serve as a lead structure for the development of neuroprotective agents by providing neuroprotection against oxidative and focal ischemic neuronal injuries.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.179-184
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of adding prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-india var. Sabolen) on the quality characteristics of Jeung-Pyun, a traditional fermented Korean rice cake, and to find out an appropriate ratio of prickly pear powder to give a favorable color. Changes in the quality characteristics of prickly pear-added Jeung-Pyun during storage period were also studied. As the addition of prickly pear powder was increased from 1 to 3%, the degrees of expansion and gelatinization of Jeung-Pyun were increased. The degree of gelatinization and hardness were changed slowly during storage at room temperature (20$^{\circ}C$). In sensory evaluation, control Jeung-Pyun samples without prickly pear powder was preferred to that with prickly pear powder, but it was not significant up to 2% prickly pear powder. In the case of Jeung-Pyun containing 2% prickly pear powder, those stored for 12 hr received higher sensory scores than those right after being manufactured. In general, Jeung-Pyun samples with 2% prickly pear powder was favored. The addition of prickly pear powder was likely to improve the preservation property of Jeung-Pyun.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.621-626
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• 1998

Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica var saboten Makino) is a tropical or subtropical plant, which is widely used as folk medicine for burned wound, edema and indigestion. We previously found that the ethanol extract of cactus stem showed anti-inflanunatory action. This investigation was designed to isolate the active fraction of anti-inflanimatory action from cactus stem by solvent extraction and colunm chromatography. Carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats and acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice were used as animal models to search anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. respectively. The ethanol extract of cactus stem was consecutively extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. The hexane fraction was the most effective in carrageenan-induced paw edema, and then was separated in colunm chromatography of silica gel by the elution with hexane/ethyl acetate mixture. The most effective fraction 1 was separated in a second colunm chromatography by eluting with hexane/diethyl ether mixture. The most effective fraction 1-5 was obtained, and separated in a third column chromatography by eluting with hexane/chloroform mixture. It produced the most effective fraction 1-5-1. Moreover, fraction 1-5-1 showed an inhibitory effect on acetic acid-induced writhing in the doses of 30mg/kg and 60mg/kg,p.o.,indicating that it also contained analgesic activity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1018-1023
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• 2003

From the stems and fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten, eight flavonoids, kaempferol (1), quercetin (2), kaempferol 3-methyl ether (3), quercetin 3-methyl ether (4), narcissin (5), (+)-dihydrokaempferol (aromadendrin, 6), (+)-dihydroquercetin (taxifolin, 7), eriodictyol (8), and two terpenoids, (6S,9S)-3-oxo-$\alpha-ionol-\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (9) and corchoionoside C (10) were isolated and identified by means of chemical and spectroscopic. Among these isolates, compounds 3∼5 and 8∼10 were reported for the first time from the stems and fruits of O. ficusindica var. saboten.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.364-370
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to find optimal ratio of herbal extracts to ameliorate ethanol-induced psychomotor alterations. Four mixtures of Laurus nobilis (L. nobilis), Rosa roxburghii (R.R.) and Opuntia ficus indica (OFI) were pretreated 30 minutes before ethanol administration in rats. Behavioral activities were evaluated. Blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels were also measured. These effects of mixture of R.R (50 mg/kg)+OFI (100 mg/kg)+L.nobilis (100 mg/kg) were better than those of other mixtures. This mixture could be used as an effective substance to develop a functional food.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.623-634
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• 2015

This study was performed to analyze the JAR (Just-About-Right) Rating and CATA (Check-All-That-Apply) Method for commercial Yugwa (Korean oil pastry products) containing Baeknyeoncho (Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten). The survey was conducted with 50 participants, and five kinds of Yugwa samples (Control, B-YG, B-RY, B-WY and B-GB) were used. According to the results of the study with these samples, the B-RY sample received the highest score in 'Try again (6.30/9)' and 'Recommend (6.24/9)'. The Control Sample, which was the traditional Yugwa, received the second highest score (Try again: 5.62/9, Recommend: 5.70/9). The liking attributes for these samples were related to eating convenience, familiar taste, traditional type and size. These findings suggest that the factors to be considered in the development of commercial Yugwa are the maintenance of traditional taste and familiarity in an easy-to-eat size for consumers.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.731-738
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• 2019

Endophytic fungi are an important component of plant microbiota, and have the excellent capacity for producing a broad variety of bioactive metabolites. These bioactive metabolites not only affect the survival of the host plant, but also provide valuable lead compounds for novel drug discovery. In this study, forty-two endophytic filamentous fungi were isolated from Ficus elastica leaves, and further identified as seven individual taxa by ITS-rDNA sequencing. The antimicrobial activity of these endophytic fungi was evaluated against five pathogenic microorganisms. Two strains, Fes1711 (Penicillium funiculosum) and Fes1712 (Trichoderma harzianum), displayed broad-spectrum bioactivities. Our following study emphasizes the isolation, identification and bioactivity testing of chemical metabolites produced by T. harzianum Fes1712. Two new isocoumarin derivatives (1 and 2), together with three known compounds (3-5) were isolated, and their structures were elucidated using NMR and MS. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli. Our findings reveal that endophytic fungi from the rubber tree F. elastica leaves exhibit unique characteristics and are potential producers of novel natural bioactive products.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.88-94
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• 2024

In July 2021, symptoms of soft rot were observed on the stems of Ficus carica in Yeongam, Jeollanamdo, Korea. To accurately diagnose the cause, infected stem was collected and bacterial strain was isolated. Among these, the pathogenic strain KNUB-08-21 was identified as Pectobacterium aroidearum through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated sequences of the dnaX, leuS, and recA genes. The affiliation of the isolate with this bacterial species was also confirmed by its biochemical characteristics obtained using API ID 32 GN system. Artificial inoculation confirmed the strain's pathogenicity in figs, causing significant damage to both stems and fruits. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. aroidearum causing soft rot disease in F. carica in Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2005

The aim of this study is to investigate the wound healing effects of the Opuntia ficus-indica. Four full-thickness skin wounds(2.5 cm × 2.5 cm) were made in different areas on the back in each of five dogs. Two wounds were used for wound size measurement and two for skin biopsy. The ten full-thickness wounds were treated with the extract of Opuntia ficus-indica, and the ten full-thickness wounds were treated with normal saline. The wound areas were measured every other day for three weeks after wounding. Statistical analysis was performed with the paired t-test. The wound healing rates were 32.9±4.0%, 28.2±7.1%, 42.2±4.1%, 55.0±4.3%, 76.6±2.8%, 86.8±2.3%, 94.0±1.l%, 97.3±0.8%, 99.3±0.3%, 99.8±0.2%, 100.0±0.0% in the experimental group, and 18.0± 8.2%, 13.S± 11.6%, 15.2±6.1 %, 36.9±8.8%, 62.4±4.1%, 80.0±2.3%, 86.0±1.4%, 94.0±0.9%, 96.9±0.8%, 97.8±0.3%, 99.7±0.1% in the control group on the 1/sup st/, 3/sup rd/, 5/sup th/, 7/sup th/, 9/sup th/, 11/sup th/, 13/sup th/, 15/sup th/, 17/sup th/, 19/sup th/, 21/sup st/ day. On the 17/sup th/ day, the wound closed above 99.9% in 1 dog of the experimental group. On the 19/sup th/ day, the wound closed above 99.9% in 3 dogs of the experimental group. On the 21/sup st/ day, the wound closed above 99.9% in 5 dogs of the experimental group, and 1 dog of the control group. The wound healing period was shortened by 2 to 4 days in the experimental group as compared with the control group. The tensile strength was 4,508±513 g/㎠ in the experimental group and 2,772±400 g/㎠ in the control group on the 21/sup st/ day after wounding. The tensile strength was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group(p< 0.05). Inflammation rapidly spread and disappeared in the experimental group but not in the control group. Fibroblast and vascularization were found on the 5/sup th/ day in both group and increased only in the experimental group on the 9/sup th/ day. The firs finding of epithelialization was on the 13/sup th/ day in the experimental group and the 21/sup st/ day in the control group. A significantly higher wound healing rate(p< 0.05), tensile strength(p< 0.05) and better histopathological findings were observed in the experimental group than in the control group throughout the experimental period. These results suggest that topical application of Opuntia ficus-indica extract can promote wound healing in dogs.