Bone Mineral Density, Mechanical, Microstructural Properties and Mineral Content of the Femur in Growing Rats Fed with Cactus Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae) Cladodes as Calcium Source in Diet

Abstract

Mechanical, microstructural properties, mineral content and bone mineral density (BMD) of the femur were evaluated in growing rats fed with Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae) cladodes at different maturity stages as calcium source. Male weanling rats were fed with cladodes at early maturity stage (25 and 60 days of age, belonging to groups N-60 and N-200, respectively) and cladodes at late maturity stage (100 and 135 days of age, belonging to groups N-400 and N-600, respectively) for 6 weeks. Additionally, a control group fed with calcium carbonate as calcium source was included for comparative purposes. All diets were fitted to the same calcium content (5 g/kg diet). The failure load of femurs was significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) in groups N-60 and N-200 in comparison to N-400, N-600 and control groups. The cortical width (Ct.Wi) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) of the femurs in control and N-600 groups were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) than Ct.Wi and Tb.Th of femurs in groups N-60 and N-200. Trabecular separation of the femurs in N-60 and N-200 groups showed the highest values compared with all experimental groups. The highest calcium content in the femurs were observed in control, N-600 and N-400 groups; whereas the lowest phosphorus content in the bones were detected in N-200, N-600 and N-400 groups. Finally, the BMD in all experimental groups increased with age; nevertheless, the highest values were observed in N-600 and control groups during pubertal and adolescence stages. The results derived from this research demonstrate, for the first time, that the calcium found in Opuntia ficus indica cladodes is actually bioavailable and capable of improving mineral density and mechanical and microstructural properties of the bones. These findings suggest that the consumption of cladodes at late maturity stage within the diet might have a beneficial impact on bone health.

Ameliorative Effect of Cactus(Opuntia ficus indica)Extract on Lithium-Induced Nephrocardiotoxicity: A Biochemical and Histopathological Study

“…Plants from the Juniperus genus have found application in different European cuisines, as well as in cosmetics [ 10 ]. Furthermore, these plants have an extensive history of use in global folk medicine for numerous chronic diseases, including cancer as well as cardio- and cerebrovascular, ocular, and neurological diseases [ 11 , 12 ]. Among their species, Opuntia ficus indica is widely distributed in Latin America, South Africa, and the Mediterranean area.…”

Calcium Bioavailability in the Soluble and Insoluble Fibers Extracted from Opuntia ficus indica at Different Maturity Stages in Growing Rats

“…In the case of the control diets the source of calcium was calcium carbonate (Merck 2066, Darmstadt, Germany). Furthermore, different amounts of dehydrated soluble or insoluble dietary fiber of O. ficus indica at different maturity stages were added to the experimental diets as the only source of calcium to achieve the required calcium content [ 14 ]. Energy values were calculated with standard factors such as 4 kcal for available carbohydrates and proteins and 9 kcal for lipids.…”

“…Once the experimental period was concluded, the rats were sacrificed by decapitation after fasting for 12 h. The femurs of each rat were removed and weighed, while the length, width, and thickness of the bones were measured using a Vernier (Absolute Digimatic, Mitutoyo, Japan). Afterwards, the bones were stored at −20 °C for further analysis [ 14 ].…”

“…Recently, our research group demonstrated that calcium from O. ficus indica cladodes at a late maturity stage is more bioavailable than calcium found in cladodes at an early maturity stage [ 14 ]. We also found evidence indicating that calcium in the soluble fiber of O. ficus indica cladodes at late maturity stage was bioavailable in an ovariectomized rat model of postmenopausal bone loss [ 15 ].…”

Aqueous extract from Opuntia megapotamica fruit pulp promotes osteoblast activity

“…Various Opuntia species have shown a variety of biological effects: hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering [32][33][34][35], antioxidant [36][37][38][39][40], analgesic [41], anti-infl ammatory [41], antiviral [42], hepatoprotective [43], antiulcerogenic [36], antiatherogenic [44] and antitumorigenic [45,46], actions, among others. The consumption of dehydrated cladodes of Opuntia fi cus indica, source of bioavailable calcium, improves Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in adult women with low bone mass [47] and in weaned growing rats [48,49] On the other hand, the ethanolic extract of this same species prevents the decrease of bone mineral density induced by ovariectomy in rats [50]. The oral supply of polysaccharides isolated from cladodes, seeds and fruit pulp of Opuntia humifusa produces benefi cial effects on the bone trabecular mass and on the structural properties of bone in ovariectomized female mice and rats with osteoporosis [51,52].…”