title: Anatomical, chemical, and biochemical characterization of cladodes from prickly pear [Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.].
abstract: Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes represent the green stem of the plant and are generally used as animal feed or disposed of in landfills. The present work investigated the anatomical and chemical composition of Opuntia cladodes, which form the basis of their pharmacological effects. Glucose and galacturonic acid were the main sugars of Opuntia cladodes, whereas high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed the presence of mainly kaempherol and isorhamnetin glycosides (glucoside and rhamnoside). The presence of high amounts of calcium oxalate crystals was demonstrated by light microscopy on fresh and lyophilized cladodes. No antimicrobial activity was observed even after enzymatic treatment. O. ficus-indica cladodes may retain material tightly associated with cell-wall components, and this property will have the potential to greatly reduce the bioavailability of bioactive compounds.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaco-Biological Department, University of Messina, Vill. SS. Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ginestra
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Richard N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mandalari
authors.forename: Arjan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narbad
authors.forename: Rosario B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Lo Curto
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bisignano
authors.forename: Craig B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Faulds
authors.forename: Keith W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Waldron
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D029747:Opuntia / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D010936:Plant Extracts; C007819:galacturonic acid; D005947:Glucose