Evaluation of antidiabetic properties of cactus pear seed oil in rats

Abstract

Context: Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae)) is a medicinal plant widely used to treat diabetes. Objective: This work investigates the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect of cactus pear seed oil (CPSO), its mechanism of action, and any toxic effects. Materials and methods: The hypoglycemic effect of CPSO was evaluated in groups of six healthy Wistar rats given 1 or 2 ml kg À1 orally and compared with groups receiving glibenclamide (2 mg kg À1 ) or water. Glycemia was determined after 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min. The antihyperglycemic effect of CPSO was determined in healthy rats and in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (STZ); normal rats received 0.8 ml kg À1 CPSO, while diabetic rats received 1 ml kg À1 CPSO, their controls received water or 2 mg kg À1 glibenclamide. For the antihyperglycemic effect evaluation, all the animals were fasted for 16 h before treatment and received glucose orally at 1 g kg À1 30 min after treatment; blood was taken after 30, 90, 150, and 210 min. Intestinal glucose absorption was estimated in rat jejunum perfused with a solution containing 5.55 mmol l À1 glucose. Acute toxicity was determined in albino mice that received oral or intraperitoneal doses of 1, 3, or 5 ml kg À1 CPSO. Results: CPSO (p.o.) decreased postprandial hyperglycemia (60 min after glucose loading), 40.33% and 16.01%, in healthy and STZ-diabetic glucose-loaded rats, respectively. CPSO, also, significantly decreased intestinal glucose absorption by 25.42%. No adverse effects were seen in mice administered CPSO at up to 5 ml kg À1. Conclusion: CPSO is antihyperglycemic. The effect can be explained partly by inhibition of intestinal glucose absorption.

Evaluation of protective effect of cactus pear seed oil (Opuntia ficus-indica L. MILL.) against alloxan-induced diabetes in mice

“…seeds, contains high amounts of PUFAs and antioxidant compounds that can be useful in DM management [12][13][14][15][16]. In a previous work, we demonstrated that CPSO improves postprandial hyperglycemia in normal and streptozotocin-induced DM in rats by a partial inhibition of the intestinal glucose absorption [17]. Though, there is no study reporting preventive effect of CPSO against alloxan (Allx) induced-diabetes in mice.…”

Prickly Pear Seed Oil by Shelf-Grown Cactus Fruits: Waste or Maste?

“…Therefore, the oil from seeds can be potentially used by the food industry for the production of natural-based foods [5], with extended shelf-life [6,7]. More specifically, the oil from cactus pear seeds has been reported to have considerable amounts of unsaturated fatty acids [1], and antioxidant [8,9] or antimicrobial activity [10], as well as cardioprotective, anti-thrombotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-arrhythmic, hypolipidemic, and anti-hyperglycemic properties [11,12]. These properties are of interest for the pharmaceutical and food sector.…”

Middle Eastern Plant Extracts: An Alternative to Modern Medicine Problems

“…Hence, this study showed that cactus pear seed oil has anti-diabetic properties by reducing the hyperglycemic effect in both normal and STZ-diabetic rats. The fatty acids found in the cactus pear seed oil were able to increase the secretion of the insulin, enhancing the fluidity of the cell membrane and GLUT4 transporter expression, thus enhancing the glucose-induced insulin secretion [122].…”

“…Cactus has been identified to have anti-diabetic properties due to the presence of compounds such as linoleic acid (polyunsaturated fatty acid), oleic acid (monounsaturated fatty acid), vitamins such as tocopherols and vitamin K1, sterols, and carotenoids [122]. A study was conducted to study the effect of cactus pear seed oil on hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic and also toxic effects of the oil on the diabetic and non-diabetic rats [122]. The rats were fed the seed oil orally and by intraperitoneal administration and there were no mortality, behavioral, or autonomic effects observed at dosages of 1 mL/kg, 3 mL/kg, or 5 mL/kg.…”