• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.485-491
• /
• 2009

In order to examine the nutritional value of prickly pear(Opuntia humifusa), contents of ash, protein, fat, minerals and vitamins were determined on freeze-dried stem, fruit, seed and root from plants harvested in autumn. The average moisture contents for stem, fruit, seed and root were 67~87%. Crude ash content determined on dry weight basis was 2~3%. Crude protein existed mostly in seed(2.95%) and root(2.37%). Crude fat was detected mainly in seed(4.49%). Contents of major minerals(mg/100 mg dry weight) was generally higher in stem. Ca in stem(4,142.30) and fruit(2,790.86) were much higher than in seed(43.37). P in stem, seed and fruit were 448.19, 263.20 and 161.59, respectively. Stem also displayed more abundant Mg(1,110.86), Zn(35.62) and Mn(37.07). However, fruit contained higher amounts of Fe(13.38) and Se(0.15). Vitamin A was negligible in all plant parts. Vitamin E contents in fruit and stem were 1.78 mg and 1.22 mg/mg dry weight, respectively. Vitamin C was detected mostly in fruit(445.40) and stem(260.94). Use of a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide-based microtiter assay of cell viability demonstrated an anti-proliferative effect of O. humifusa extract on the MCF-7 estrogen-dependent human breast cancer cell line.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.821-826
• /
• 1998

Functional properties of mucilage and pigment extracted from Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten were determined at various temperatures, pHs and alcohol concentrations. The crude mucilage extracted from pickly pear showed pH 4.2, 0.14% total acidity and 8.1% total soluble solid content(w/w, wet basis). Polysaccharide was purified from mucilage extract by isopropanol precipitation. Intrinsic viscosity of polysaccharide was 18.1dl/g and decreased with increasing KCl concentration. Relative viscosity and color stability of mucilage extract were determined with capillary viscometer and spectrophotometer at 534nm, respectively. In additions of 1~20%(v/v) ethanol, the red pigment of mucilage extract was very stable, but relative viscosity, increased gradually. For heating above 7$0^{\circ}C$, the stability of red pigment decreased drastically, but rheological property of mucilage was not changed. During storage, the red pigment was extremely unstable at above pH 8.3. At both pH 3.0 and pH 4.2, the red pigment was the most stable at 4$^{\circ}C$ for 18 days. In the case of storage at 37$^{\circ}C$, pigment of mucilage extract at pH 3.0 was destroyed more quickly than that at pH 4.2. Natural mucilage extract(pH 4.2) showed the good stability of red pigment at 3$0^{\circ}C$ for 10 days.

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

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.9
• /
• pp.4655-4660
• /
• 2012

Opuntia humifusa, member of the Cactaceae family, was previously demonstrated to have radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects in in vitro models. It was suggested that O. humifusa could function in the prevention of carcinogenesis. To investigate the in vivo chemopreventive effect of O. humifusa, mice were fed a diet containing either 1% or 3% following 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a] anthracene (DMBA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induction of skin carcinogenesis. Significant decrease in the numbers of papilloma and epidermal hyperplasia were observed in mice fed with O. humifusa, compared to the control group. O. humifusa also upregulated high total antioxidant capacity and level of phase II detoxifying enzyme such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase activity in the skin. Lipid peroxidation activity level was measured in skin cytosol and significantly inhibited in 3% OH fed group compared to the control group. These results suggest that O. humifusa exerts chemopreventive effects on chemical carcinogenesis in mouse skin and that prevention effects are associated with reduction of oxidative stress via the modulation of cutaneous lipid peroxidation, enhancing of total antioxidant capacity especially in phase II detoxifying enzyme system and partial apoptotic influence.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.314-319
• /
• 2006

To determine the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory efficacy of Opuntia ficus-indica for chronic otitis, we evaluated the effects of topical applications of the methanol extracts with 20 cases of dogs which had chronic malignant otitis by pathogens with antibiotic resistance. The dogs had revealed recurrent symptoms of malignant otitis and were not treated by conventional therapeutic agents. However, in this study, the clinical cure rates of Opuntia ficus-indica was 75% and the average alleviation period was $1.21{\pm}0.42$ week, and the mean recovery period was $1.06{\pm}1.06$ week after the initiation of treatment. As the results of this study, topical Opuntia ficus-indica extracts was found to be highly effective for the treatment of chronic malignant otitis with clinical cure rates of 75% within 1.06 weeks of therapy. Further evaluation of Opuntia ficus-indica extracts will allow us to establish and to optimize the therapeutic strategy for the malignant otitis in veterinary practice, and the potential usefulness of this complementary treatment on recurrent infectious pathology.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.142.2-142
• /
• 2003

손바닥 선인장(Opuntia ficus indica)은 중심자목 선인장과에 속하는 다년생 초본으로 열매는 서양배 모양이며 많은 종자가 들어있고 다량의 점질물을 함유하고 있다. 손바닥 선인장 열매(prickly pear pulp)는 14.5%의 고형분 함량을 가지고 있으며, 0.21%의 단백질, 0.12%의 지방, 0.44%의 회분, 0.19%의 pectin 이외에 미량의 비타민 A와 C 그리고 여러 종류의 무기질을 포함하고 있다. 주요 당류로서 sucrose(68.7%), fructose(18.0%) 및 glucose(12.8%)를 함유하고 있으며, 점질다당류의 구성분인 mannose 가 0.5% 포함되어 있다. 손바닥 선인장 열매는 높은 혈중 콜레스테롤, 염증 및 비만 등의 치료에 유용한 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 손바닥 선인장 열매 추출물의 기능적 특성을 반응표면분석에 의해 모니터링 하였다. 그 결과 환원당 함량은 최대값이 33.39 mg%로 추출온도 69.87$^{\circ}C$, 추출시간 68.84 min및 시료에 대한 용매비 16.29 ml/g일 때였다. 총 플라보노이드 함량은 추출온도 89.7$0^{\circ}C$, 추출시간 170 min 및 시료에 대한 용매비 17.07 ml/g일 때 2,03 mg%로 최대값을 나타내었다. 펙틴 함량은 추출온도 96.54$^{\circ}C$, 추출시간 135.28 min및 시료에 대한 용매비 20.02 nWg일 때 최대값 82.04 mg%를 나타내었으며, 비타민 C 함량은 추출온도 61.8$0^{\circ}C$, 추출시간 101.98 min 및 시료에 대한 용매비 12.14 ml/g일 때 최대값이 3.76 mg%였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.125.2-126
• /
• 2003

손바닥 선인장(Opuntia ficus indica var. saboten)은 열대지역 유래의 다년초로서 열매와 줄기를 공복에 갈아 마시면 변비치료, 이뇨효과, 장운동의 활성화 및 식욕증진에 효능이 있으며, 선인장 줄기는 오래전부터 피부질환, 류머티스 및 화상치료에 이용되어 왔다 선인장 열매(prickly pear pulp)는 14.5%의 고형분 함량을 가지고 있으며, 0.21%의 단백질, 0.12%의 지방, 0.44%의 회분, 0.19%의 pectin 이외에 미량의 비타민 A와 C 그리고 여러 종류의 무기질을 포함하고 있다. 선인장 열매로부터 분리된 pectin 성분은 콜레스테롤 수치를 낮추는 효과가 있다고 보고된 바 있다. 본 연구에서는 손바닥 선인장의 소비 확대 방안의 일환으로 손바닥 선인장 열매를 이용한 겔타입 파우치 제품의 개발을 위한 최적의 제조조건을 확립하고자 하였다. 이를 위하여 손바닥 선인장 열매의 추출특성을 반응표면분석에 의해 모니터링하고, 최적조건에서 얻은 추출물을 이용하여 제조한 파우치 제품의 관능적 특성을 검토하였다. 그 결과 가용성 고형분 함량은 추출온도 82.7$0^{\circ}C$, 추출시간 118.98min 및 용매비 24.91 $m\ell$/g일 때 최대값을 나타내었으며, 총페놀성화합물 함량의 최대값은 578.96 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$으로 추출온도 89.37$^{\circ}C$, 추출시간 144.77 min 및 용매비 22.81 $m\ell$/g일 때였다. 전자공여능은 추출 온도 97.26$^{\circ}C$, 추출시간 109.30 min, 용매비 19.73 $m\ell$/g일 때 최대값을 나타내었다. 손바닥 선인장 열매의 겔타입 파우치에 대한 관능검사 결과, 최대의 관능점수를 나타내는 배합비는 전반적인 기호도가 3.75점으로 xanthan gum의 함량이 0.11%, 당의 함량이 6.59%, 사과식초의 함량이 1.34%인 것으로 나타났다.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.308-315
• /
• 2012

Opuntia humifusa known as the Eastern prickly pear have been used as a treatment of burns, diarrhea, asthma, rheumatism, gonorrhea, and diabetes in alternative medicine. O. humifusa is widely cultivated in the middle and southern provinces of Korea and distributed in North America. The aim of this study is to investigate anti-diabetic effect of O. humifusa stem (OHS) water or 80% MeOH extract using 3T3-L1 adipocytes and db/db mice animal models. OHS 80% MeOH extract at a dose of $250{\mu}g/ml$ significantly increased the glucose uptake and lipid accumulation compared with the control in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Blood glucose, plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly reduced by oral treatment of OHS 80% MeOH extract (200 mg/kg BW) for 6 weeks in db/db mice. Also, the oral treatment of OHS 80% MeOH extract slightly changed the plasma insulin and insulin resistance levels in db/db mice, but were no significance in comparison to control. Glucose transporter(GLUT)4 expressions of adipose tissue and muscle were significantly increased more than that in the control. Therefore, these results suggest that OHS 80% MeOH extract inhibits the blood glucose level through regulation of lipid profile, insulin resistance, and GLUT4 expression in db/db mice and its diabetic effect is effective more than water extract.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.551-560
• /
• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Opuntia ficus indica(prickly pear) pigment and sodium lactate on nitrite-reduced sausages. The a* value, total bacterial counts, pH, water holding capacity, texture analysis, sensory evaluation of sausages, body weight gain and blood glucose of rat for 4 weeks were not significantly different between the control and treatments. However, 2-thiobarbituric acid(TBA) values and cholesterol(total, LDL, HDL) and neutral fat of blood were significantly different between the control and treatments(P<0.05). TBA value was lower in control and cholesterol and neutral fat were lower in treatments. Among the treatments T2(30ppm of nitrite+2% of sodium lactate+0.2% Opuntia ficus indica pigment) was the most effective. In conclusions, this study suggested that T2 can reduce adding level of nitrite from 100 ppm to 30 ppm without any changes in color, shelf life and flavor of sausages. In addition, it had the effect on the reduction of cholesterol and neutral fat in blood.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.1013-1016
• /
• 1995

The color stability of betacyanins and effects of antioxidants from Opuntia dillenii Haw were determined in the fruit juice at temperature up to $90^{\circ}C$. The absorption maxima of betacyanins occurred between 536 nm and 538 nm. When fruit juice was heated at $90^{\circ}C$ for various times, the red color gradually diminished and the absorption maxima slightly shifted toward uv region. The kinetic analysis of the data obtained indicated that the discoloration for betacyanins obeyed first order reaction pattern, when the thermal stability test was performed at $50{\sim}90^{\circ}C$. And the rate constant increased from $1.56{\times}10^{-3}/min\;to\;71.91{\times}10^{-3}/min$ with the half-life decreasing from 444.23 min to 9.64 min. The results also indicated that the thermal stability of pigment decreased with increasing temperature. The energy of activation was 10.94 kcal/mole for the pigment. N-propyl gallate, L-cysteine, and ascorbic acid were added to cactus fruit juice at concentrations of $0.01{\sim}0.3%$ at different temperatures. Npropyl gallate and L-cysteine had a little antioxidant effect on betacyanins stability at $50^{\circ}C\;and\;70^{\circ}C$, whereas ascorbic acid had a great antioxidant effect with the half-life value of 2 to 10 times to that of the control.