Present and Future Potential of Antiparasitic Activity of Opuntia ficus-indica

Abstract

One of the most important plant that has received greatattention in recent years, especially in arid and semi-arid areas, is prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus indica) due to its tolerance of drought, high temperatures and poor soils. Opuntia ficus-indica is a bushy or erect and tree-like perennial succulent with a definite woody trunk, with a large top. 1 It is characterized by being fast growing and its edible fruits are harvested 3 years after planting. 1 Fruits are ovoid to oblong with sometimes spines, normally red to purplish, green, yellow or orange, fleshy, juicy, edible, able to storage for several months. The pulp may be white-yellowish, orangish or purple-red. It is native to Mexico, but now cultivates in the rural areas of the many countries, where plants play an important role in the economic life of rural residents as a source of food for humans (consuming both the fruits and pad), beverages, and livestock fodder, soap, drinking water purification and as a protective hedge for fencing, 2,3 also dye as host plants for the cochineal insect (Dactylopius coccus). Cochineals are used to make carmine dye, a highly prized red dye for textiles. 4 Historically, the prickly pear has been used in traditional medicine to treat digestive problems, anemia, ulcers, bronchitis, edema, urinary problems, fever, inflammation, vitiligo, and for burn and wound care. Also, it has been used as a diuretic, treatment of liver problems, hemorrhoids, bladder stones, inflammation of the eyes, lower back pain, spleen enlargement, and management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tumors. 2,3,5 Among the traditional uses of pads/cladodes are to relieve heat and inflammation, and wound care., while flowers are used for treatment of lung problems, including bronchitis and asthma, and also fruits are used to treat gonorrhea and

Dental unit waterlines and health risks of pathogenic microbial contamination: An update review

“…and Pseudomonas spp., etc.) or as germs in their own right (Hikal et al, 2017;Hikal et al, 2020;Spagnolo et al, 2019). In a recent investigation, the mean concentration of HPCs was determined by evaluating the amount of contamination by bacteria and amoebae in 30 DU at 22 and 36 °C, and was 1168.53 CFU/mL and 827.90 CFU/mL respectively (Spagnolo et al, 2019), while the denseness of P. aeruginosa tested to be of 25.13 CFU/100 mL.…”

“…Giardia is one of the most frequent waterborne diseases among humans in the United States and across the world. It is shielded by an exterior shell, allowing it to remain outside the body and in the environment for extended periods, and is therefore very difficult to eradicate with chlorine because of its capability to tolerate a cystic state (Chandler et al, 2002;Hikal et al, 2017;Hikal et al, 2020). On the other hand, cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal illness caused by the tiny parasite Cryptosporidium parvum, which, like Giardia, has an exterior shell that permits it to survive outside the body for lengthy periods of time and renders it resistant to chlorine treatment.…”

Nanobiotechnology for the Detection and Control of Waterborne Parasites

“…An attractive alternative to the urgent need of developing new medication alternatives to current treatments that are less toxic, more effective, and that does not generate resistance is offered by the intervention of nanotechnology in the pharmaceutical and immunological field. Nanomedicines could help solve the problems posed by the treatment and prophylaxis of parasitic diseases like leishmaniasis and chagas disease [54] [58].…”