• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.12-16
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the quality characteristics of soybean curd prepared with Opuntia ficus-indica fruit, freeze-dried Opuntia ficus-indica fruit powder, or heat-dried Opuntia ficus-indica fruit powder, without addition of a coagulant. The yield rates of the soybean curd were slightly decreased for the three curds containing Opuntia ficus-indica fruit; this was accompanied by a significant decrease in pH. Furthermore, the hardness and springiness of soybean curds coagulated with added freeze-dried Opuntia ficus-indica fruit powder or heat-dried Opuntia ficus-indica fruit powder were higher than the hardness and springiness of the coagulated controls. However, the cohesiveness and brittleness of two soybean curds were lower than for the controls, while the gumminess of the four soybean curds containing control fruit was the same. In terms of overall acceptability, the preferred soybean curd was the curd containing freeze-dried Opuntia ficus-indica fruit powder.

• 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 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.

• 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.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.103-110
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• 2005

Opuntia ficus-indica, commonly known as prickly pear cactus, is commercially grown as a food and medicinal plant in Jeju Island, Korea. The crushed pads and fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica were dried in a freeze-dryer and ground into flour to be used for food materials. The major components of proximate compositions were part of a nitrogen free extract. The major minerals were Ca (4391.2-2086.9㎎%), K (1932.1-2608.7㎎%), and Mg (800.6-1984.8㎎%). The major amino acid was glutamic acid, comprising 16.3% of total amino acids in fruit and 25.2% in pad. Dihydroflavonols were identified as (+)-trans-dihydrokaempferol and (+)-trans-dihydroquercetin. Citric acid methyl esters extracted from fruits showed inhibitory activities against monoamine oxidase-B. The presence of trimethyl citrate has been reported in other plants, but 1,3-dimethyl citrate and 1-monomethyl citrate have not been previously reported. The results of pharmacological efficacy tests, including serum biochemical and hematological parameters, autonomic nervous system, anti-inflammatory, analgestic activity, anti-diabetic activity, antithrombotic, anticoagulant, dopamine beta-hydroxylase, monoamine oxidase activity, hyperlipidemia, the respiratory system, antigastic, and anti-ulcerative actions indicate that the fruit and pad of the Opuntia ficus-indica are rich sources of food and medicinal materials.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.6.1-6.6
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• 2021

Opuntia ficus-indica has traditionally been used in prevention and treatment of various diseases such as diabetes mellitus. The current study was performed to determine whether Opuntia ficus-indica is associated with diabetes. Diabetic rat models were induced with streptozotocin (STZ). This study divided rats into 1 day (short-term) and 4 consecutive weeks (long-terms) of daily administration. These groups were subdivided into four groups each other for assessment of blood glucose level as follows: Group 1, untreated rats given distilled water; Group 2, untreated rats given Opuntia ficus-indica; Group 3, STZ-induced diabetic rats given distilled water; Group 4, STZ-induced diabetic rats given Opuntia ficus-indica. Blood glucose level was measured for one day and four weeks. In addition, serum markers of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), cholesterol, and creatinine were determined, and total protein triglycerides were measured at four weeks. Blood glucose level was highest in both groups (Group 3 and Group 4) at 30 minutes and two weeks and gradually decreased in a time-dependent manner. The difference in blood glucose among the four groups was significant (p < 0.05). Additionally, the levels of ALT, AST and triglycerides were significantly decreased by Opuntia ficus-indica.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.