title: Nopal cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) as a source of bioactive compounds for nutrition, health and disease.
abstract: Opuntia ficus-indica, commonly referred to as prickly pear or nopal cactus, is a dicotyledonous angiosperm plant. It belongs to the Cactaceae family and is characterized by its remarkable adaptation to arid and semi-arid climates in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. In the last decade, compelling evidence for the nutritional and health benefit potential of this cactus has been provided by academic scientists and private companies. Notably, its rich composition in polyphenols, vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids and amino acids has been highlighted through the use of a large panel of extraction methods. The identified natural cactus compounds and derivatives were shown to be endowed with biologically relevant activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial and neuroprotective properties. The present review is aimed at stressing the major classes of cactus components and their medical interest through emphasis on some of their biological effects, particularly those having the most promising expected health benefit and therapeutic impacts.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche BioPerxIL, Laboratoire BioPeroxIL EA7270, Université de Bourgogne, 6, Bd Gabriel, Dijon F-21000, France.
authors.forename: Karym
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: El-Mostafa
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche BioPerxIL, Laboratoire BioPeroxIL EA7270, Université de Bourgogne, 6, Bd Gabriel, Dijon F-21000, France.
authors.forename: Youssef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: El Kharrassi
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche BioPerxIL, Laboratoire BioPeroxIL EA7270, Université de Bourgogne, 6, Bd Gabriel, Dijon F-21000, France.
authors.forename: Asmaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badreddine
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche BioPerxIL, Laboratoire BioPeroxIL EA7270, Université de Bourgogne, 6, Bd Gabriel, Dijon F-21000, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andreoletti
authors.affiliation: Inserm and HMNO, CBP, CHRU Lille, Lille 59037, France.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vamecq
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de recherche sur les Lipoprotéines et l'Athérosclérose, Faculté des Sciences Ben M'sik, Avenue Cdt Driss El Harti BP. 7955, Université Hassan II-Mohammedia-Casablanca, Casablanca 20 000, Morocco.
authors.forename: M'Hammed Saïd
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: El Kebbaj
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche BioPerxIL, Laboratoire BioPeroxIL EA7270, Université de Bourgogne, 6, Bd Gabriel, Dijon F-21000, France.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Latruffe
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche BioPerxIL, Laboratoire BioPeroxIL EA7270, Université de Bourgogne, 6, Bd Gabriel, Dijon F-21000, France.
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lizard
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biochimie et Neurosciences, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Hassan I, BP 577, Settat 26 000, Morocco.
authors.forename: Boubker
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nasser
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche BioPerxIL, Laboratoire BioPeroxIL EA7270, Université de Bourgogne, 6, Bd Gabriel, Dijon F-21000, France. malki@u-bourgogne.fr.
authors.forename: Mustapha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cherkaoui-Malki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D029747:Opuntia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols