Chemical composition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities of Opuntia stricta cladodes

Abstract

BackgroundThe Opuntia spp. have been used in traditional medicine for many centuries. It is used in the management of diseases that involves oxidative stress, especially diabetes, obesity and cancer. Opuntia stricta (Haw) is one of the relatively unknown species in South Africa where it is regarded more as a weed. Because of this, not much is known about its chemical composition.AimTo determine the chemical composition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities of Opuntia stricta cladodes.MethodsThe phytochemical composition of acetone, aqueous and ethanol extract of cladodes of Opuntia stricta (Haw), as well as the vitamins A, C and E of its dried weight cladodes and the antioxidant activities, were evaluated using standard in vitro methods. The anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities were evaluated using cell-based assays. The phytochemical composition and vitamins were determined spectrophotometrically, while the antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity and phosphomolybdenum (total) antioxidant activity. Anti-inflammatory activity was determined using RAW 264.7 cells, while cytotoxicity was determined using U937 cells.ResultsThe phytochemical composition showed a significant difference in the various extracts. The total phenolics were higher than other phytochemicals in all the extracts used. All the extracts displayed antioxidant activity, while most of the extracts showed anti-inflammatory activity. Only one extract showed cytotoxicity, and it was mild.ConclusionThe results show that the Opuntia stricta is rich in polyphenolic compounds and has good antioxidant activity as well as anti-inflammatory activities.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-proliferating activities of Grewia heterotricha Mast.

“…According to Varela-López, the natural products exert antioxidant and antiinflammatory activity through up regulation of either NF-κB, MAPK or p38/JNK pathways (19).The potential DPPH radical scavenging activity observed in this study may be due to the presence of these secondary metabolites in the extracts that may mediate through any of the above signaling pathways. Our observation is in agreement with the studies of Izuegbuna et al, (20).…”

Partially replacing sorghum silage with cactus (Opuntia stricta) cladodes in a soybean oil‐supplemented diet markedly increases trans‐11 18:1, cis‐9, trans‐11 CLA and 18:2 n‐6 contents in cow milk

“…For instance, numerous plant secondary compounds such as flavonoids and phenolic acids have been identified in cladodes of several Opuntia cultivars (Astello‐García et al., 2015) and in citrus pulp (Tripoli et al., 2007). Phenolic compounds, including tannins, have been detected in cladodes of Opuntia stricta (Alves et al., 2017; Izuegbuna et al., 2019), the cactus species used in the present study. Phenolic compounds modulate rumen BH by altering rumen microbial composition in a way that favours rumen outflows of PUFA, trans ‐11 18:1 and cis ‐9, trans ‐11 CLA at the expense of 18:0 (Vasta et al., 2019).…”

“…Alternatively, presence of numerous phenolic compounds in Opuntia spp. cladodes (Astello‐García et al., 2015; Bakari et al., 2017), including Opuntia stricta (Alves et al., 2017; Izuegbuna et al., 2019), may alter rumen microbial population by inhibiting bacteria species responsible for the final step of rumen BH (Vasta et al., 2019). Regardless of the mechanism(s) underlying the reduced 18:0 content in milk fat of cows fed cactus cladodes, this finding suggests that associating cladodes with plant oils rich in PUFA may increase rumen accumulation and outflow of trans ‐11 18:1 for mammary synthesis of cis ‐9, trans ‐11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), thereby improving the nutritional quality of milk fat (Chilliard et al., 2007).…”

Antioxidant and Anti-Proliferative Activity of Essential Oil and Main Components from Leaves of Aloysia polystachya Harvested in Central Chile

“…Our results on A. polystachya essential oil from fresh leaves collected in central Chile are consistent with other studies, identifying carvone and limonene as the most abundant constituents [ 13 ]; however, our report is the first in which carvone constitutes over 90 percent of the composition. This variation in essential oil content and chemical composition is influenced by many factors, including location, plant age, climate, cultivar, distillation method, and type of distillation apparatus used [ 16 ].…”