title: Studies on the pharmacological action of cactus: identification of its anti-inflammatory effect.
abstract: The ethanol extracts of Opuntia ficus-indica fructus (EEOF) and Opuntia ficus-indica stem (EEOS) were prepared and used to evaluate the pharmacological effects of cactus. Both the extracts inhibited the writhing syndrome induced by acetic acid, indicating that they contains analgesic effect. The oral administrations of EEOF and EEOS suppressed carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and also showed potent inhibition in the leukocyte migration of CMC-pouch model in rats. Moreover, the extracts suppressed the release of beta-glucuronidase, a lysosomal enzyme in rat neutrophils. It was also noted that the extracts showed the protective effect on gastric mucosal layers. From the results it is suggested that the cactus extracts contain anti-inflammatory action having protective effect against gastric lesions.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kahng
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Paek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D002351:Carrageenan; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007723:Korea; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009336:Necrosis; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002351:Carrageenan; D005966:Glucuronidase