Cactus pear: a natural product in cancer chemoprevention

Abstract

Background: Cancer chemoprevention is a new approach in cancer prevention, in which chemical agents are used to prevent cancer in normal and/or high-risk populations. Although chemoprevention has shown promise in some epithelial cancers, currently available preventive agents are limited and the agents are costly, generally with side effects. Natural products, such as grape seed, green tea, and certain herbs have demonstrated anti-cancer effects. To find a natural product that can be used in chemoprevention of cancer, we tested Arizona cactus fruit solution, the aqueous extracts of cactus pear, for its anti-cancer effects in cultured cells and in an animal model.

Roles of Plant Extracts and Constituents in Cervical Cancer Therapy

“…The aqueous extracts of cactus pear, the fruit of Arizona cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) has been reported to exhibit cytotoxic effect in HeLa cells (Zou et al, 2005). It was shown in this study that 1% cactus pear solution inhibited 40-60% of immortalized HeLa cells, and 5% of the solution kills almost 100% of the cells at day 5.…”

Cactus: a medicinal food

“…Arizona cactus pear extracts effectively inhibited cell growth in several different immortalized and cancer cell cultures, suppressed tumour growth in nude mice and modulate expression of tumour-related genes. The mechanism of the anticancer effects of cactus pear extracts needs to be further studied (Zou et al 2005). The seeds of cordon cactus (Pachycereus pringlei) are edible and highly nutritious and plants have been used in traditional medicine (Holguin et al 1993).…”

Anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activity of whole extract and isolated indicaxanthin from Opuntia ficus-indica associated with re-activation of the onco-suppressor p16INK4a gene in human colorectal carcinoma (Caco-2) cells

“…Betalains include two classes of pigments, red betacyanins and yellow betaxanthins [4]. Antitumoral potential of betalain-rich extracts from dietary sources has been explored in animal models and in cancerous cell lines [5][6][7]. In addition betanin, the main dietary betacyanin, has been shown to inhibit the growth of breast, colon, stomach, CNS, and lung cancer cells [8], induce apoptosis in K562 human myeloid leukemia cell lines [9], and have a weak activity on the epigenome-regulated gene expression of MCF-7 breast [10], but not HepG2 liver [11] cancer cells.…”