Phytochemical Content, Nutraceutical Potential and Biotechnological Applications of an Ancient Mexican Plant: Nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica)

Angulo-Bejarano, Paola Isabel; Martínez‐Cruz, Oliviert; Paredes‐López, Octavio

doi:10.2174/157340131003140828121015

Cited by 35 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 148 publications

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“…Long before the horticultural management of this plant was known, ancient Mexicans consumed it in abundance. 9 During the XV and XVI centuries, the Spanish conquerors founded towns and communities, and created an unprecedented environment for Opuntia, small horticultural systems known as "nopaleras de solar".…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward unfolding bioeconomy of nopal (Opuntia spp.)

Ciriminna¹,

Chavarría-Hernández²,

Rodríguez-Hernández³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Providing unique ecosystem services in addition to being a source of healthy food and plentiful water in semi-arid and arid regions, the Opuntia cactus plant (nopal) is quickly becoming a source of valued biobased products in high demand also in countries where the cactus is not harvested. Following an updated outlook on the valued new uses of nopal fruit and cladode biological resources, this study suggests avenues to overcome the main obstacles to unleashing the full potential of Opuntia's bioeconomy.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward unfolding bioeconomy of nopal (Opuntia spp.)

Ciriminna¹,

Chavarría-Hernández²,

Rodríguez-Hernández³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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“…Several diabetes and obesity studies with Opuntia spp probed improvement in pancreatic islet integrity, β-cell proliferation, and insulin secretion induction by the hand of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and circulating lowering lipid probed effects. The mechanisms proposed include a greater ratio of phosphorylatedAkt:Akt, higher expression of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ); it also showed increased energy expenditure, reduced adipocyte size, increased ISR phosphorylation, and expression of genes related to fatty acid oxidation [32,37].…”

Section: Glucose and Insulin Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addition of <i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> Reduces Hypothalamic Microglial Activation and Improves Metabolic Alterations in Obese Mice Exposed to a High-fat Diet

Urquiza-Martínez¹,

Martínez-Flores²,

Guzmán-Quevedo³

et al. 2020

JFNR

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Opuntia ficus-indica consumption improves obesity and glucose and lipid metabolism, to name a few; however, the involved mechanism is poorly understood and attributed primarily to fiber. Obesity was recently shown to increase microglial cell activation in the hypothalamus. Here, we hypothesized that the addition of cactus flour (CF) to a high-fat diet (HFD) reduces hypothalamic inflammation, which is a key regulator of energy balance metabolism. Adult male C57Bl/6j mice underwent HFD (60% cal from fat) exposure over 12 weeks to develop obesity. The same type of HFD added with CF (17%) was administrated for 4 weeks. Bodyweight and food intake were recorded during the treatment, and glucose and insulin tolerance were evaluated at the end of the treatment. Additionally, the behavioral satiety sequence (BSS) was performed, and adiposity, along with microglia activation and density in the arcuate nucleus was determined. Herein, we found that CF normalizes body weight and adiposity without changes in absolute food intake. Moreover, CF modulated the cumulative caloric intake in a diet-dependent manner. Feed efficiency was decreased; glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were improved with CF treatment. BSS showed a decreased resting time and increased grooming for animals with an HFD-CF. Finally, CF consumption normalized microglia density in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus in obese mice and significantly decreased their activation. This study shed new light on the understanding of the effects of cactus to reduce body weight, adiposity and improve glucose metabolism, and suggest they are mediated by the reduction of the microglial activation of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus.

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“…Some reports describe the presence of nopal plants in Mesoamerica since the arrival of humans 20 000 years ago, specifically in the desert and semi‐desert regions, where they were important sources of food, beverages, and medicines for indigenous people. Long before the horticultural management of this plant was known, ancient Mexicans consumed it in abundance . During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the Spanish conquerors founded towns and communities, and created an unprecedented environment for small Opuntia horticultural systems known as ‘nopaleras de solar’.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward unfolding the bioeconomy of nopal (Opuntia spp.)

Ciriminna

Chavarría-Hernández

Rodríguez-Hernández

et al. 2019

Biofuels Bioprod Bioref

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Besides being a source of healthy food and water in arid and semi‐arid lands, the Opuntia cactus plant (nopal) provides unique ecosystem services. In the last decade the plant's cladodes, fruits, flowers, and byproducts have become a source of valued bioproducts, increasingly used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, beverage, and nutraceutical industries. Following an updated examination of the new uses of nopal's biological resources, this study suggests avenues to overcome the main obstacles to unleashing the full potential of Opuntia's bioeconomy. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

show abstract

Phytochemical Content, Nutraceutical Potential and Biotechnological Applications of an Ancient Mexican Plant: Nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica)

Cited by 35 publications

References 148 publications

Toward unfolding bioeconomy of nopal (Opuntia spp.)

Toward unfolding bioeconomy of nopal (Opuntia spp.)

Addition of <i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> Reduces Hypothalamic Microglial Activation and Improves Metabolic Alterations in Obese Mice Exposed to a High-fat Diet

Toward unfolding the bioeconomy of nopal (Opuntia spp.)

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