• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.163-174
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• 2009

Reactive oxygen species(ROS) can induce hepatotoxicity and trigger apoptosis in the liver. In this study, we investigated the sulfated polysaccharide A-1 from Opuntia ficus-indica against alcoholic oxidative stress in human liver Hep G2 cell. An antioxidant substance A-1 obtained from the enzymatic extract of Opuntia ficus-indica fruit was purified by DEAE-cellulose ion exchange and sephadex G-100 gel permeation chromatography. The purification yield and molecular weight were 14.3% and 1.8 KDa, respectively. The A-1 predominately contained arabinose, galactose, rhamnose and also sulfate group. The structure of A-1 was investigated by periodate oxidation, FT-IR spectroscopy, $^1H$-NMR spectroscopy. The A-1 mainly composed of alternating unit of ${\rightarrow}4$)-$\alpha$-L- Rapp-2-$SO_3^-$-$\alpha$-L-Galp-($1{\rightarrow}$ and branched linkage of $\beta$-D-Arbp- ($5{\rightarrow}$. The antioxidative activity was measured using the SOD, CAT activity and GSH assay, respectively. The expression of Nrf2 protein was analyzed by western blotting. The viable cell count analyzed by autofluorescence. Oxidative stress induced by ethanol(1 M) were dramatically reduced by A-1 treatment. A-1 also prevented cell death induced by oxidative stress. It also increased expression Nrf2 protein level. We concluded that sulfated polysaccharide A-1 from Opuntia ficus-indica effectively protect Hep G2 liver cell from alcoholic oxidative stress.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.7 s.87
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• pp.915-922
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• 2007

In order to discover physiologically active substance, we investigated a powder obtained by processing of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten Makino trunk. The powder was treated by sulfuric acid and then extracted by several solvents such as methanol, methylene chloride, ethanol etc. Among them, the best antimicrobial activity was showed by methylene chloride extract. To identify materials exhibiting physiological activation, the acid hydrolyzed extract was separated by 7 fractions through preparative silica gel TLC. The effective fraction exhibiting the best broad antimicrobial activity was identified, named as MBT-01108. From structural analysis of the products extracted to acid hydrolysis, a compound exhibiting the antimicrobial activities is identified to levulinic acid. Levulinic acid isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten Makino may be applicable as a natural preservative of food or cosmetic and for prevention of bacterial diseases, an ingredient of acne, ageing and whitening cosmetics and an antimicrobial agent.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.847-853
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• 1997

Attempts were made to determine the compositions of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten for the utilization as food materials. The major components of Opuntia ficus-indica and aloe in proximate compositions were nitrogen free extract. Total mineral contents of stem, fruit and seed of Opuntia ficus-indica were 9400.8, 6151.2 and 1096.8 mg%, respectively, and their major minerals were Ca, P and Mg. The major free amino acids of fruit were tyrosine, proline and arginine, those of stem were glycine and arginine and that of seed was glutamic acid. The major amino acid of fruit was glutamic acid, those of stem were glycine and arginine and those of seed were glutmic acid and arginine. Vitamin C contents of fruit and stem were 163.8 and 71.2 mg% but not presented in seed. Vitamin A was also not presented in fruit, stem and seed. Contents of total polyphenols and flavonoids were changed by extraction solvent and temperature. Total polyphenols of fruit were higher than those of stem and seed. Total flavonoids of fruit were similar to those of stem.

• 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.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.742-746
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• 2009

The proximate compositions of Opuntia ficus indica fruits from Shinan were moisture 71.18%, crude protein 1.69%, crude ash 0.93%, crude fat 0.55%, crude fiber 1.54% and 24.11% nitrogen free extracts. And the proxmate compositions of Opuntia ficus indica stem were moisture 74.85%, crude protein 3.48%, crude ash 0.54%, crude fat 0.48%, crude fiber 2.58% and 18.07% nitrogen free extracts. The crude protein and crude fiber content of Opuntia ficus indica stem from Shinan were higher than those of fruit. The contents of fructose, sucrose and glucose were higher than maltose. As the result of organic acid, the content of citric acid was higher than malic acid and tartaric acid. As a result of mineral analysis, the contents of potassium was the highest among the minerals in Opuntia ficus indica from Shinan. Analysis of total amino acids in Opuntia ficus indica from Shinan. The contents of total amino acid of fruit and stem were 1,604.64 mg% and 3,245.98 mg% and the free amino acid contents of fruit and stem were 556.02 mg% and 1,101.35 mg%, respectively. The major components of total amino acids were glutamic acid, proline and threonine. The levels of total amino acids and free amino acids in Opuntia ficus indica stem were higher than those in its fruit.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2021

Purpose: To verify the anti-microbiotic activity and to develop eco-friendly surface disinfectants using the Opuntia ficus-indica extract. Methods: The stem and fruits of the Opuntia cultivated in Jeju Island were extracted with hot water, 70% EtOH and 100% MeOH, respectively. To examine the antimicrobial activity of the extracts, gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus), gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium), yeast (Candida albicans), mold (Aspergillus flavus) and antibiotic resistant bacteria (E. coli, S. aureus) were measured to form a clear zone. Results: The antibacterial activity of the fruit extract was higher than that of the stem extract, and the antibacterial activity of the 100% MeOH (FM) extract and the 70% EtOH (FE) extract of the palm cactus fruit was suitable for the surface disinfectant overall, and clear-zone formed even at relatively low concentrations (250 mg/mL). The FM and FE have antibacterial activity against various bacteria, therefore they can be used as disinfectants. Conclusion: The antimicrobial activity of Opuntia ficus-indica extract from Jeju Island by stem and fruit was determined at relatively low concentrations (250 mg/mL). The Opuntia ficus-indica extract will be useful for surface disinfectants dissolving the patients' bath, oral gargling, and powdered powder in water or ethanol in appropriate concentrations.

• 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.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.51-54
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• 2001

Three varieties of methyl citrate and 1 -methyl malate were isolated from the fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten Makino through in vitro bioassay-guided isolation for the inhibition on monoamine oxidase(MAO). The $IC_50$ values for MAO-B of 1-monomethyl citrate, 1,3-dimethy citrate, trimethyl citrate and 1-methyl malate were 0.19, 0.23, 0.61 and 0.25 mM, respectively. However, on MAO-A, their inhibitions showed only marginal activity.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.90-93
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• 2001

The effects of the dried fruit powder of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten (OF-f) were investigated on gastric lesion and ulcer models in rats. It showed significant inhibition in HCl ethanol and HCl aspirin induced gastric lesion at a dose of 600 mg/kg, p.o. OF-f also showed significant inhibition in indomethacin induced gastric lesion at the doses of 200 and 600 mg/kg, p.o. However, it did not affect aspirin and Shay ulcer in rats. It also did not affect the gastric juice secretion, acid output and pH. These data suggest that OF-f possesses pronounced inhibitory action on gastric lesion of rats.