Hypotensive Activity, Toxicology and Histopathology of Opuntioside-I and Methanolic Extract of Opuntia dillenii

Abstract

Methanolic extract of Opuntia dillenii cladodes and its pure compound a a-pyrone glycoside, opuntioside-I showed potent hypotensive activity in normotensive rats. Both the extract and opuntioside-I showed comparable effect of 44-54% fall in Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (MABP) at the dose of 10 mg/kg. No mortality was observed in rats even at the doses of 1000 mg/kg/d and 900 mg/kg/d per oral of extract and opuntioside-I respectively. However, histopathology revealed adverse effects of high doses on liver and spleen of the experimental animals.

Biochemical Effects of Matured Stem Extract of Opuntia Dillenii in Male Wistar Rats

“…Studies have established that alterations in the transport capacity of the hepatocytes attributable to hepatic injury lead to leakage of enzymes from cells to the bloodstream [20]. This outcome corroborates the ndings of Saleem et al (2005) [21] and Zouhir et al (2015) [22] who reported similar increase in rats given methanolic and aqueous extract of Opuntia fi cus indica and Opuntia dillenii, respectively, though not in line with Ncibi et al (2008) [23] and Brahimi et al (2011) [24].…”

Antiradical activity, nutritional potential and flavonoids of the cladodes of Opuntia monacantha (Cactaceae)

“…Recently, significant anti-diabetic and anti-glycated effects of the polysaccharides from the cladodes of O. monacantha from China have been described (Yang et al, 2008;Zhao, Yang, Yang, Jiang, & Zhang, 2007). Cactus fruits and cladodes, specially those from Opuntia genus, have been widely used as food and in folk medicine, possessing several pharmacological and nutritional properties (Feugang, Konarski, Zou, Stintzing, & Zou, 2006;Kim et al, 2006;Saleem et al, 2005;Stintzing & Carle, 2005;Stintzing & Carle, 2007). In Brazil, three species of Opuntia (sensu stricto) (Taylor, Stuppy, & Barthlott, 2002), usually called ''palmas", can be found.…”

Families with Species of Questionable Toxicity or Significance

“…In a number of such instances in cattle, the main clinical signs were decreased appetite, colic, ruminal and intestinal hypomotility, dehydration, and increased heart rate. Methanolic extracts of a Middle Eastern Opuntia species or its glycoside, opuntioside I, given to rats produced a marked reduction in arterial blood pressure but no other adverse effects except hepatic degeneration with quite high dosage (Saleem et al 2005). Methanolic extracts of a Middle Eastern Opuntia species or its glycoside, opuntioside I, given to rats produced a marked reduction in arterial blood pressure but no other adverse effects except hepatic degeneration with quite high dosage (Saleem et al 2005).…”