• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1316-1321
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• 2009

Multiple beneficial properties of Opuntia ficus indica (OPF) are well established. In the present study, we have investigated the immunological role of OPF extract (OPFE) on murine splenocytes. OPFE dose- and time-dependently enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes without cytotoxicity. Our results also showed that the number of $CD4^+$ helper T cells and CD45R/$B220^+$ pan B cells increased markedly, but not $CD8^+$ cytotoxic T cells or $CD11b^+$ granulocytes/macrophages. In addition, OPFE significantly decreased the production levels of T helper (Th) 1 type cytokines, interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, although had no significantly differences in those of interleukin (IL)-4, a Th2 type cytokine in concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated blastogenic cells. Furthermore, OPFE alone strongly increased IL-4 production and decreased TNF-$\alpha$ production even in the absence of Con A. On the basis of these results, this study suggests that OPFE enhances immunity by regulating the pro- and anti-inflammatory response, indicating that this extract exerts a marked immunomodulatory effect, confirming its usefulness as therapy for immune-related diseases.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.790-795
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• 2014

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary carotenoids sources on growth and skin color of red- and white-colored fancy carp Cyprinus carpio var. koi. Nine experimental diets (designated as Con, CP, PA, SP, OP, MB, TO, BE and PO) were formulated to contain Carophyll Pink, red paprika, Spirulina, Opuntia, mandarin bark, tomato, beet and Porphyra, respectively. Each experimental diet was fed to two replicate groups of fish (22.9 g/fish) to visual satiation three times a day for 8 weeks. Weight gain and feed efficiency of fish fed the diets containing Spirulina or Opuntia were higher than those of fish fed the control diet (P<0.05). The values of $a^*$, $L^*$ and $b^*$ of fish skin were significantly changed by dietary carotenoids sources (P<0.05). The $a^*$ values of fish fed the diets containing Carophyll Pink, red paprika and Spirulina were higher than those of fish fed other diets (P<0.05). The skin total carotenoids of fish fed the diets containing Spirulina and Opuntia were higher than those of others (P>0.05). Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that dietary inclusion of red paprika and Spirulina pacifica could increase the skin redness of red- and white-colored fancy carp.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.345-359
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• 1999

The antimicrobial and antioxidative effects of Opuntia ficus-indica vur. saboten (OP) extract with different solvents and extraction methods were investigated. In general, antimicrobial activity of OP was higher in extracts by reflux than in extracts by shake. However, no significant difference in antimicrobial activity was observed between methanol, ethanol and water extract. The antimicrobial activity was significant against all microbes tested, especially against Pseudomonas aeruginosa by shake extract and against Escherichia coli O-157 by reflux extract. A severe morphological change with destruction of outer layer was observed in Salmonella enteritidis treated with water extract. Though OP extract in hydrogen activity was lower than 0.1% BHT, the activity of OP extract showed very high effectivenss than the activity of control. OP extract showed a similar extent of antioxidative activity with BHT.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.953-965
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• 2019

In this study, the Opuntia humifusa f. jeollaensis (Wanggasi-Chunnyuncho) fruit (WCF) was used as a source of viscous dietary fiber and color pigmentation in sausage production to improve quality characteristics, including cooking loss and emulsion stability. Control and treatment sausages were formulated with 0%, 1%, 5%, and 10% WCF powder, respectively, and the following quality measures were investigated: general composition, fiber content, cooking loss, emulsion stability, chromaticity, pH, texture, and sensory properties. The moisture, dietary fiber, and ash contents showed increasing trends (all p<0.05) with increasing concentrations of fruit powder. Conversely, crude protein and crude fat contents exhibited decreasing trends with increasing fruit powder concentrations (p<0.05). Moreover, both the moisture and dietary fiber contents affected cooking loss, water retention capacity, and the sausage texture, causing the cooking loss to decrease, while the water and oil retention capacity increased (p<0.05) with increasing concentrations of WCF powder. Furthermore, hardness exhibited a significant decreasing trend as the concentration of WCF powder increased (p<0.05). This finding suggested that both dietary fiber and viscous materials, along with the protein and moisture content, affected the product hardness. In addition, sensory evaluation of the WCF powder groups showed better results than did the control group, and the strongest results obtained for the group containing 5% fruit powder (p<0.05). Therefore, this study suggests that WCF powder improves the quality of emulsified sausages and can potentially be applied as a naturally-derived additive.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.195-201
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• 2011

Opuntia humifusa contains high levels of antioxidants including vitamin C, flavonoids and polyphenols, which may provide beneficial effects such as hypolipidemic activity and the reduction of atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women. This study was conducted to determine if the intake of O. humifusa seeds powder (OHS) regulates lipid concentrations, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) in the serum of ovariectomized rats. Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to either a sham-operated group (Sham) or one of the following four ovariectomy (OVX) subgroups: OVX with vehicle (OVX), OVX with 100, 200, and 500 mg/kg/day OHS (OHS100, OHS200, OHS500). Daily oral administration of OHS was initiated one week after ovariectomy and continued for seven weeks. Upon completion of treatments, organs were weighed and GOT, GPT, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were determined enzymatically. No significant differences in feed intake and organ index were observed among the groups. Significant decreases in GPT, TC and LDL-C (p<0.05) were observed in all of the OHS groups (OHS100, 200 and 500), while no significant changes in HDL-C were observed. In addition, the OHS200 and OHS500 treatment groups exhibited a lower level of serum GOT compared to the OVX group. These results indicate that supplementation with O. humifusa seeds could induce favorable changes in serum lipoprotein and lipid profiles, which frequently worsen with inadequate estrogen availability.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.16-27
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• 2019

Generative and vegetative parts of the cactuses have had a long-lasting position in folk medicine and their effects could partly be confirmed in scientific experiments. Nowadays, the cactus, fruits, and cladodes are the focus of many studies because of their desirable properties. Therefore, the summarized reports of valuable properties of medicinal plants may be a good way to familiarize researches with a new source of drugs with lower side effects and higher efficacy. Opuntia dillenii, a well-known member of the Cactaceae family, is used as a medicinal plant in various countries and grows in the desert, semi-desert, tropical and sub-tropical areas. It shows diverse pharmacological activities such as: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, hypotensive etc. OD fruit also possesses valuable constitutes for instance: betalains, ascorbic acid, total phenol, protein as well as essential elements which suggest the significant potential of this plant as a complementary therapy against several pathological conditions. This review describes experimental evidence about pharmacological and therapeutic potential of OD in order to give the basis of its application in the prevention and treatment of some chronic diseases. More studies on OD can help better understanding of its pharmacological mechanism of action to explain its traditional uses and to identify its potential new therapeutic applications.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.381-388
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• 2018

Various characteristics of Opuntia humifusa (O. humifusa) extract solution obtained under low temperature and reduced pressure were examined and cosmetic essences using the extract solution as a humectant were prepared. The O. humifusa extract solution represented very small surface tension (25 mN/m) and contact angle ($8^{\circ}$), compared with other humectants such as glycerine and 1% hyaluronic acid solution. Also, the viscosity and stickiness of the extract solution were very low. The O. humifusa extract solution made it possible for a small amount of oil to be dispersed stably in water without any surfactant. Unlike other humectants, the viscosity and stickiness of cosmetic essences were reduced as the extract solution content in formulation increased. These results show that the O. humifusa extract solution obtained under low temperature and reduced pressure can be used as a natural humectant that provides moisturizing property and less sticky feeling.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.498-510
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity, characterized by abnormal fat accumulation and metabolic disturbances, presents a significant health challenge. Opuntia humifusa Raf., commonly known as Korean Cheonnyuncho, is rich in various beneficial compounds and has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, its potential impact on glucose and lipid metabolism, particularly in obese rats, remains unexplored. We aimed to investigate whether O. humifusa stems and fruits could beneficially alter glucose metabolism and lipid profiles in a rat model of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. MATERIALS/METHODS: Thirty-two rats were allocated into 4 groups: normal diet (NF), HFD control (HF), HFD treated with 2% O. humifusa stems (HF-OS), and HFD treated with 2% O. humifusa fruits (HF-OF). Experimental diets were administered for 6 weeks. At the end of the treatment, liver and fat tissues were isolated, and serum was collected for biochemical analysis. The major flavonoid from O. humifusa stems and fruits was identified and quantified. RESULTS: After 6 weeks of treatment, the serum fasting glucose concentration in the HF-OS group was significantly lower than that in the HF group. Serum fasting insulin concentrations in both HF-OS and HF-OF groups tended to be lower than those in the HF group, indicating a significant improvement in insulin sensitivity in the HF-OS group. Additionally, the HF-OS group exhibited a tendency towards the restoration of adiponectin levels to that of the NF group. CONCLUSION: The 2% O. humifusa stems contain abundant quercetin and isorhamnetin, which alter fasting blood glucose levels in rats fed a HFD, leading to a favorable improvement in insulin resistance.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.334-340
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Opuntia ficus-indica complex (OF) on blood glucose, glucose tolerance, plasma insulin level and histopathological appearance of pancreatic islets in streptozotoxin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Thirty-two male Sprague-Daweley rats were divided into non-diabetic control (NC), diabetic control (DC), diabetic OF of 2% (OF-2) and diabetic OF of 5% (OF-5) and fed experimental diets for 3 weeks. Compared to the DC group fasting blood glucose levels in the OF-2 and OF-5 groups were significantly (p<0.05) reduced while fasting plasma insulin level in the OF-2 and OF-5 groups were significantly (p<0.05) increased. Glucose tolerance in the OF-2 and OF-5 groups were improved. Histopathological observation of pancreatic islets of the OF-2 and OF-5 groups showed hyperplasia which was very similar to NC. Numbers of ${\beta}$-cells in OF-2 ($47.81{\pm}0.92$) and OF-5 ($81.64{\pm}2.80$) were higher than numbers of ${\beta}$-cells in DC ($13.18{\pm}1.01$). These results imply that the intake of OF improves ${\beta}$-cell proliferation and prevents the death of ${\beta}$-cells in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2012

To examine the new practical utilization of mucilages in Opuntia humifusa, the Korean pear cactus, the polysaccharides were isolated from O. humifusa, and immuno-stimulating activities were assayed. The main polysaccharide, CNC-E, was prepared by a commercial enzyme treatment, water extraction, and ethanol precipitation. The molecular mass of CNC-E was estimated to be about 700 kDa, and it consisted mainly of arabinose, galactose and xylose in addition to two minor sugars such as rhamnose and fucose. On the other hand, CNC-E showed considerably high splenocyte proliferation activity in a dose-dependent manner. Peritoneal macrophages stimulated with CNC-E produced cytokines such as IL-6, IL-12, IL-10, and TNF-${\alpha}$. The intravenous administration of CNC-E significantly augmented the cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells against Yac-1 tumor cells. Especially, NK cells obtained from the mice treated with $100{\mu}g$ of CNC-E showed threefold higher cytolytic activity than those of untreated mice. CNC-E also showed potent anti-complementary activity in a dose-dependent fashion. Identification of C3 activation products by the crossed immunoelectrophoresis using anti-human C3 and the anti-complementary activity of CNC-E in a $Ca^{2+}$-free condition suggested complement activations by CNC-E that occur via both alternative and classical pathways. These results indicate that Korean pear cactus contains selected polysaccharides that provide immuno-stimulating activities beneficial to human health.