The cactus cladode (Opuntia ficus indica) modulates uricemia, improves endothelial dysfunction and corrects oxidative damage in rats fed a cafeteria diet

Abstract

PurposeThe effects of Opuntia ficus indica (OFI) cladodes on uricemia level, endothelial dysfunction and oxidative damage were studied in young rats fed a cafeteria diet (CD).Design/methodology/approachA total of 16 young male Wistar rats (weighing 110 ± 20 g and four weeks old) were divided into two homogenous groups. The first group received a CD containing 50% of hyperlipidic diet and 50% of junk food mix (processed mix: hyper-fat, hyper-salted and sweetened) (CD group), and the second group (CD + OFI nopalitos) received the same diet supplemented with 50 g of fresh OFI nopalitos (young cladodes) for 30 days.FindingsOFI nopalitos regulate the hyperuricemia, improve the endothelial dysfunction by raising the bioavailability of nitric oxide(NO) and reduce prooxidant markers by reducing lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation (p < 0.05) and boosting antioxidant capacity and enhancing the antioxidant enzymes activities (p < 0.05) in blood and aorta tissues of rats early fed with a high-fat diet /junk food.Social implicationsBy-products of OFI have specific functional properties that may be beneficial in metabolic disorders and offer a better alternative with an economic and sustainable development perspective.Originality/valueBy-products of OFI highlight potential functional properties mainly based on its potent antioxidant capacity. By-products of OFI can be used as a promising nutraceutical resource to prevent various metabolic disorders in relation with cardiovascular diseases or hyperuricemia in subjects consuming junk food and or living in the Western society to reach the objectives of health policy and maintain a sustainable health system development.

An overview and update on the chemical composition and potential health benefits of Opuntia ficus‐indica (L.) Miller

“…Using furosemide as reference drug, the oral administration of OFI cladode gel or aqueous extract elevated urine volume, creatinine clearance, and urinary excretion of sodium and potassium in rats, while intravenous administration of cladode lyophilized extract showed a hypotensive and diuretic effect on normotensive rabbits (Bakour et al, 2017). Young cladodes also regulated hyperuricemia and improve the endothelial dysfunction in young rats fed with cafeteria diet through increasing nitric oxide bioavailability and reducing oxidative stress (Chekkal et al, 2020). Freeze‐dried OFI young cladodes also significantly reduced arterial diastolic and systolic blood pressure in HFD/STZ induced T2D (Harrat et al, 2019).…”

Identification and molecular docking of xanthine oxidase and α‐glucosidase inhibitors in Opuntia ficus‐indica fruit

“…Opuntia ficus‐indica fruit (OFI), also known as prickly pear, originates from Mexico and belongs to the Cactaceae family (Giraldo‐Silva et al., 2023). The OFI is rich in bioactive substances and has been proven to have pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti‐ulcer, hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, anti‐obesity, and uric acid‐lowering (Chekkal et al., 2020; Ramirez‐Rodriguez et al., 2020). Ultrafiltration is a simple, reliable, and rapid method for screening specific bioactive molecules.…”