Evaluation of Opuntia spp. derived products as antiproliferative agents in human colon cancer cell line (HT29)

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. - anticancer properties and phytochemicals: current trends and future perspectives

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, and conventional cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy often result in undesirable and adverse effects. Natural products have emerged as a promising alternative for cancer treatment, with comparatively fewer side effects reported. Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill., a member of the Cactaceae family, contains a diverse array of phytochemicals, including flavonoids, polyphenols, betalains, and tannins, which have been shown to exhibit potent anticancer properties. Various parts of the Opuntia plant, including the fruits, stems/cladodes, and roots, have demonstrated cytotoxic effects against malignant cell lines in numerous studies. This review comprehensively summarizes the anticancer attributes of the phytochemicals found in Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill., highlighting their potential as natural cancer prevention and treatment agents. Bibliometric metric analysis of PubMed and Scopus-retrieved data using VOSviewer as well as QDA analysis provide further insights and niche to be explored. Most anticancer studies on Opuntia ficus-indica and its purified metabolites are related to colorectal/colon cancer, followed by melanoma and breast cancer. Very little attention has been paid to leukemia, thyroid, endometrial, liver, and prostate cancer, and it could be considered an opportunity for researchers to explore O. ficus-indica and its metabolites against these cancers. The most notable mechanisms expressed and validated in those studies are apoptosis, cell cycle arrest (G0/G1 and G2/M), Bcl-2 modulation, antiproliferative, oxidative stress-mediated mechanisms, and cytochrome c. We have also observed that cladodes and fruits of O. ficus-indica have been more studied than other plant parts, which again opens the opportunity for the researchers to explore. Further, cell line-based studies dominated, and very few studies were related to animal-based experiments. The Zebrafish model is another platform to explore. However, it seems like more in-depth studies are required to ascertain clinical utility of this biosustainable resource O. ficus-indica.

Differential Effects of Betacyanin and Betaxanthin Pigments on Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response in Murine Macrophages

SCOPE

Betalain pigments are increasingly highlighted for their bioactive and anti-inflammatory properties, although research is lacking to demonstrate contributions of individual betalains. The work herein aimed to compare effects of four main betalains on inflammatory and cell-protective markers and to highlight potential structure-related relationships of the two main subgroups: betacyanins vs betaxanthins.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Murine RAW 264.7 macrophages were stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide following incubation with betacyanins (betanin, neobetanin) and betaxanthins (indicaxanthin, vulgaxanthin I) in concentrations from 1 to 100 µM. All betalains suppressed expression of pro-inflammatory markers IL-6, IL-1β, iNOS, and COX-2 with tendency for stronger effects of betacyanins compared to betaxanthins. In contrast, HO-1 and gGCS showed mixed and only moderate induction, while more emphasized effects were observed for betacyanins. While all betalains suppressed mRNA levels of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX-2), a superoxide generating enzyme, only betacyanins were able to counteract hydrogen peroxide induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, in alignment with their radical scavenging potential. Furthermore, betaxanthins exerted pro-oxidant properties, elevating ROS production beyond hydrogen peroxide stimulation.

CONCLUSION

In summary, all betalains display anti-inflammatory properties, although only betacyanins demonstrate radical scavenging capacities, indicating potential differing responses under oxidative stress conditions, which requires further research.

Structures, Sources, Identification/Quantification Methods, Health Benefits, Bioaccessibility, and Products of Isorhamnetin Glycosides as Phytonutrients

In recent years, people have tended to consume phytonutrients and nutrients in their daily diets. Isorhamnetin glycosides (IGs) are an essential class of flavonoids derived from dietary and medicinal plants such as Opuntia ficus-indica, Hippophae rhamnoides, and Ginkgo biloba. This review summarizes the structures, sources, quantitative and qualitative analysis technologies, health benefits, bioaccessibility, and marketed products of IGs. Routine and innovative assay methods, such as IR, TLC, NMR, UV, MS, HPLC, UPLC, and HSCCC, have been widely used for the characterization and quantification of IGs. All of the therapeutic effects of IGs discovered to date are collected and discussed in this study, with an emphasis on the relevant mechanisms of their health-promoting effects. IGs exhibit diverse biological activities against cancer, diabetes, hepatic diseases, obesity, and thrombosis. They exert therapeutic effects through multiple networks of underlying molecular signaling pathways. Owing to these benefits, IGs could be utilized to make foods and functional foods. IGs exhibit higher bioaccessibility and plasma concentrations and longer average residence time in blood than aglycones. Overall, IGs as phytonutrients are very promising and have excellent application potential.

Opuntia ficus-indica Fruit: A Systematic Review of Its Phytochemicals and Pharmacological Activities

The use of Opuntia ficus-indica fruits in the agro-food sector is increasing for a multiplicity of players. This renewed interest is, in part, due to its organoleptic characteristics, nutritional value and health benefits. Furthermore, industries from different sectors intend to make use of its vast array of metabolites to be used in different fields. This trend represents an economic growth opportunity for several partners who could find new opportunities exploring non-conventional fruits, and such is the case for Opuntia ficus-indica. O. ficus-indica originates from Mexico, belongs to the Cactaceae family and is commonly known as opuntia, prickly pear or cactus pear. The species produces flowers, cladodes and fruits that are consumed either in raw or in processed products. Recent publications described that consumption of the fruit improves human health, exhibiting antioxidant activity and other relevant pharmacological activities through enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms. Thus, we provide a systematic, scientific and rational review for researchers, consumers and other relevant stakeholders regarding the chemical composition and biological activities of O. ficus-indica fruits.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity and Cytocompatibility of Polyphenolic Compounds Extracted from Food Industry Apple Waste: Potential in Biomedical Application

Apple pomace (AP) from the food industry is a mixture of different fractions containing bioactive polyphenolic compounds. This study provides a systematic approach toward the recovery and evaluation of the physiochemical and biological properties of polyphenolic compounds from AP. We studied subcritical water extraction (SCW) and solvent extraction with ethanol from four different AP fractions of pulp, peel, seed, core, and stem (A), peel (B), seed and core (C), and pulp and peel (D). The subcritical water method at the optimum condition resulted in total polyphenolic compounds (TPC) of 39.08 ± 1.10 mg GAE per g of AP on a dry basis compared to the ethanol extraction with TPC content of 10.78 ± 0.94 mg GAE/g db. Phloridzin, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin were the main identified polyphenolics in the AP fractions using HPLC. DPPH radical scavenging activity of fraction B and subcritical water (SW) extracts showed comparable activity to ascorbic acid while all ethanolic extracts were cytocompatible toward human fibroblast (3T3-L1) and salivary gland acinar cells (NS-SV-AC). Our results indicated that AP is a rich source of polyphenolics with the potential for biomedical applications.

Phytochemical Screening and Bioactivities of Cactaceae Family Members Endemic to Mexico

Mexico is a center of diversification for the Cactaceae family, with 69% of the species recorded as endemic. Certain members of the Cactaceae family have been chemically analyzed to relate their medicinal use with their phytochemistry. Here, the phytochemistry and bioactivity of ethanol extracts of Ferocactus echidne, F. latispinus, and Mammillaria geminispina were evaluated. A preliminary phytochemical analysis was performed, detecting the presence of saponins, tannins, cardiotonic glycosides, and sesquiterpene lactones. The presence of nicotinic acid in F. echidne and F. latispinus was identified by GC-MS. Other compounds found in the extracts of these three species were gentisic acid, diosmetin, chlorogenic acid, N-methyltyramide, and hordenine. The antioxidant activity was estimated with the DPPH free radical scavenging test. To determine the toxicity of the extracts, the in vivo model of Artemia spp. was used. In addition, the cytotoxicity of the extract was tested on C6, HaCaT, THP-1, and U937 cell lines, while the inflammatory activity was tested by measuring the secretion of cytokines using macrophage cells. The three species showed different bioactivities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities. To the best of our knowledge, the results presented here are the first described for these species.

Lipophilic Compounds and Antibacterial Activity of Opuntia ficus-indica Root Extracts from Algeria

The chemical composition, investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and antibacterial activity of lipophilic extractives of three varieties of Opuntia ficus-indica roots from Algeria are reported in this paper for the first time. The results obtained revealed a total of 55 compounds, including fatty acids, sterols, monoglycerides and long chain aliphatic alcohols that were identified and quantified. β-Sitosterol was found as the major compound of the roots of the three varieties. Furthermore, considerable amounts of essential fatty acids (ω3, ω6, and ω9) such as oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids were also identified. The green variety was the richest among the three studied varieties. The antibacterial activity, evaluated with disc diffusion method, revealed that lipophilic extracts were effective mainly against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (19~23 mm). Gram-negative strains mainly Pseudomonas aeruginosa gave an inhibition zone of 18 mm, which is considered high antibacterial activity. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of the tested bacteria revealed interesting values against the majority of bacteria tested: 75–100 µg mL⁻¹ for Bacillus sp., 250–350 µg/mL for the two Staphylococcus strains, 550–600 µg mL⁻¹ for E. coli, and 750–950 µg mL⁻¹ obtained with Pseudomonas sp. This study allows us to conclude that the lipophilic fractions of cactus roots possess interesting phytochemicals such as steroids, some fatty acids and long chain alcohols that acted as antibiotic-like compounds countering pathogenic strains.

Alleviative Effect of Herbal Extract Containing Phytoconstituents of Bambusa vulgaris and Opuntia ficus-indica against AOM/DSS-Induced Colorectal-Carcinoma-Bearing Mice

The study includes preliminary phytochemical screening and assessing alleviative effects of ethanolic extract of Bambusa vulgaris shoots and Opuntia ficus-indica fruits (EEBO) on azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS)-induced colorectal cancer in rodents. Acute oral toxicity study was performed to find the therapeutic dose of EEBO. In animals, cancer was induced by single injection of AOM 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally followed by supply of three repeated cycles of 2.5% of DSS solution. Then animals were treated with EEBO from third day of experiment and treatment was continued throughout the experimental period. The anticancer effect was assessed by studying body weight (b. wt) changes, macroanatomy, antioxidant level, and microanatomy of colon. The phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of alkaloid, glycoside, carbohydrate, and flavonoid in bamboo extract, whereas glycoside and flavonoid in cactus extract. The results found that EEBO increases the b. wt and level of antioxidants like sodium dismutase, glutathione, and catalase and meanwhile decreases malondialdehyde. Macroanatomy study indicated a decrease in the numbers of adenoma and inflammatory signs in the treated group when compared with diseased group. Histopathology revealed that the presence of EEBO improved the colon histoarchitecture similar to normal and masked the crypt appearance. Decreased chromosomal aberrations and micronucleus numbers were observed in EEBO treated group. Overall, results suggest that the EEBO 400 mg/kg exhibited highest activity compared with 200 and 100 mg/kg and the effect may be attributed to its antigenotoxic or antioxidant effect.

Natural Food Colorants and Preservatives: A Review, a Demand, and a Challenge

The looming urgency of feeding the growing world population along with the increasing consumers' awareness and expectations have driven the evolution of food production systems and the processes and products applied in the food industry. Although substantial progress has been made on food additives, the controversy in which some of them are still shrouded has encouraged research on safer and healthier next generations. These additives can come from natural sources and confer numerous benefits for health, beyond serving the purpose of coloring or preserving, among others. As limiting factors, these additives are often related to stability, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness issues, which justify the need for innovative solutions. In this context, and with the advances witnessed in computers and computational methodologies for in silico experimental aid, the development of new safer and more efficient natural additives with dual functionality (colorant and preservative), for instance by the copigmentation phenomena, may be achieved more efficiently, circumventing the current difficulties.

Opuntia genus in Human Health: A Comprehensive Summary on Its Pharmacological, Therapeutic and Preventive Properties. Part 1

Opuntia spp. is a diverse and widely distributed genus in Africa, Asia, Australia, and America. Mexico has the largest number of wild species; mainly O. streptacantha, O. hyptiacantha, O. albicarpa, O. megacantha and O. ficus-indica. The latter being the most cultivated and domesticated species. Throughout history, plants and their phytochemicals have played an important role in health care and Opuntia spp. has shown a high nutritional, medicinal, pharmaceutical, and economic impacts. Its main bioactive compounds include pigments (carotenoids, betalains and betacyanins), vitamins, flavonoids (isorhamnetin, kaempferol, quercetin) and phenolic compounds. Together, they favor the different plant parts and are considered phytochemically important and associated with control, progression and prevention of some chronic and infectious diseases. This first review (Part 1), compiles information from published research (in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies) on its preventive effects against atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity, hepatoprotection, effects on human infertility and chemopreventive and/or antigenotoxic capacity. The aim is to provide scientific evidences of its beneficial properties and to encourage health professionals and researchers to expand studies on the pharmacological and therapeutic effects of Opuntia spp.

Phytochemical Profile of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill Fruits (cv. 'Orito') Stored at Different Conditions

This research analyzed the phytochemical profile of prickly pear fruits from ‘Orito’ cultivar stored under cold conditions (2 °C, 85–90% RH) and shelf-life conditions at room temperature (stored at 20 °C for three days after cold storage) for 28 days, mimicking the product life cycle. A total of 18 compounds were identified and quantitated through HPLC-DAD-MS/MS (High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic -Diode Array Detector- Mass Spectrometry) analyses. Phenolic acids such as eucomic acid and betalains such as indicaxanthin were the predominant chemical families, and piscidic acid was the most abundant compound. During cold storage, the content of eucomic acid isomer/derivative and syringaresinol increased, and citric acid decreased, which could be caused by the cold activation of the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes. However, no significant differences were found in the content of these compounds during shelf-life storage. These results showed that ‘Orito’ fruit marketability would be possible up to 28 days after harvesting, retaining its profile, which is rich in bioactive compounds.

Opuntia ficus-indica Extract and Isorhamnetin-3-O-Glucosyl-Rhamnoside Diminish Tumor Growth of Colon Cancer Cells Xenografted in Immune-Suppressed Mice through the Activation of Apoptosis Intrinsic Pathway

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Opuntia ficus-indica extract (OFI-E) and its glycoside isorhamnetin-3-O-glucosyl-rhamnoside (IGR) on the growth of human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells and in a xenografted-immunosuppressed mice model. The IC₅₀ values of OFI-E and IGR on colon cancer cells (HT-29 RFP) were determinate, as well as their effects on the cell cycle and apoptosis induction. OFI-E and IGR produced an increased in apoptosis induction, ROS production and a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. In xenografted-inmunosupressed mice, OFI-E and IGR reduced the tumor growth rate, myeloperoxidase activity and total cholesterol levels. OFI-E and IGR reduced the tumor growth through the overexpression of cleaved Caspase-9, Hdac11, and Bai1 proteins. OFI-E reduced the expression of bcl-2. Results demonstrated the chemopreventive effects of OFI-E, and its purified compound IGR, showing their potential as an alternative in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Comparative study between in vivo- and in vitro-derived extracts of cactus (Opuntis ficus-indica L. Mill) against prostate and mammary cancer cell lines

Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill cladodes are considered to be a source of an abundance of bioactive compounds. To identify a natural product that can be used in the chemoprevention and treatment of cancer, this study was conducted to produce an anticancer agent extracted from in vitro-derived cladodes of prickly pear cactus. Toward this goal, assays of seed germination and micropropagation revealed that the highest seed germination rate was 66% and that the highest shoot number per explant was obtained with benzyl adenine (BA) (2 mg/l) and kinetin (Kin) (1 mg/l) within 2 months, at 22.6. In addition, the maximum length of shoots was obtained with BA (3 mg/l) and Kin (0.5 mg/l), at 7.44 cm. The in vitro-derived cladode extract showed higher total phenolic and kaempferol contents than the in vivo-derived cladode extract (total phenolics 156.5 mg/g and 86 mg/g DW; kaempferol 2.807 mg/g and 1.304 mg/g DW, respectively). These remarkable results reflected the anticancer activity on the viability and proliferation/migration of PC3 prostate and mammary Mcf7-7 cells. In terms of cytotoxicity, the IC50 values on PC3 and Mcf7 cells were 5775.7 and 6311.3 μg/ml, respectively, showing dose-dependent increases. Meanwhile, from in vivo analyses of the plants, the IC50 values were 5927.93 and 6825.6 μg/ml, respectively, again showing dose-dependent increases.

Using High-Pressure Technology to Develop Antioxidant-Rich Extracts from Bravo de Esmolfe Apple Residues

Bravo de Esmolfe (BE) is a traditional Portuguese apple highly appreciated by consumers due to its peculiar flavor and aroma. This apple contains higher concentration of phenolic compounds than other cultivars and is thus considered a rich source of antioxidants. Its sensorial and functional properties have attracted farmers’ associations to increase BE production. However, a large quantity of apples is wasted due to storage/transportation procedures that impact BE’s quality attributes. In this work, we applied high-pressure extraction methodologies to generate antioxidant-rich fractions from BE residues aiming at adding high value to these agro-food by-products. We performed a first extraction step using supercritical CO₂, followed by a second extraction step where different CO₂ + ethanol mixtures (10–100% v/v) were tested. All experiments were carried out at 25 MPa and 50 °C. Extracts were characterized in terms of global yield, phenolic content and antioxidant activity using chemical (ORAC, HOSC, HORAC) and cell-based assays (CAA). We demonstrated that, although the pressurized 100% ethanol condition promoted the highest recovery of phenolic compounds (509 ± 8 mg GAE/100 g BE residues), the extract obtained with 40% ethanol presented the highest CAA (1.50 ± 0.24 µmol QE/g dw) and ORAC (285 ± 16 µmol TEAC/g dw), as well as HOSC and HORAC values, which correlated with its content of epicatechin and procyanidin B2. Noteworthy, this fraction inhibited free radical production in human neurospheroids derived from NT2 cells, a robust 3D cell model for neuroprotective testing.

Cladodes: Chemical and structural properties, biological activity, and polyphenols profile

The nopal cactus is an essential part of the Mexican diet and culture. The per capita consumption of young cladodes averages annually to 6.4 kg across the nation. In addition to contributing to the country's food culture, the nopal is considered a food with functional characteristics since, in addition to providing fiber, an important group of polyphenolic compounds is present, which has given cladodes to be considered a healthy food, for what they have been incorporated into the diet of Mexican people and many other countries worldwide. Research suggests that polyphenols from cladodes act as antioxidants and antidiabetics. This review studies the main phenolic components in cladodes and summarizes both conventional and novel methods to identify them.

Pinus koraiensis polyphenols: structural identification, in vitro antioxidant activity, immune function and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation

Herein, polyphenols were extracted from Pinus koraiensis bark and characterized. Besides, the in vitro antioxidant activity, inhibition effect on cancer cells and the activity of the immune system were investigated. The results showed that the main component of Pinus koraiensis bark was 3,5,7,3',5'-pentahydroxydihydroflavone. PKB polyphenols demonstrated a high antioxidant activity during in vitro investigation. In vivo immunological function studies on oxidatively injured mice revealed that Pinus koraiensis bark polyphenols effectively improved the survival status of irradiated mice. PKBP also increased the spleen and thymus index of mouse immunoregulatory organs. The results indicated that the phagocytic ability of mononuclear macrophages was increased. Comparing the cell distribution of the PKBP administered group and the model group, the PKBP-administered group reduced the cells arrested in the G1 phase, while the number of cells increased in the S and G2 phases. PKBP effectively protected the mouse immune system and reduced the immune suppression caused by radiation. These findings also confirmed that oxidative damaged cells induced by radiation could be repaired. PKBP had the highest inhibitory activity on colon cancer cells HT29, breast cancer cells MFC-7, gastric cancer cells BGC-823 and cervical cancer HeLa and HT29 cancer cells. PKB polyphenols could effectively induce the production of DNA-Ladder fragments and cause DNA damage in cancer cells. PKBP also blocked the cycle of cancer cells in the G2 phase, stopped cell division and induced cancer cell apoptosis. Analysis of cell apoptosis by Annexin V-FTIC/PI double staining indicated that PKBP inhibited HT29 cancer cell proliferation.

LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS analysis and cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of chlorogenic acid derivative rich extract from Nerium oleander L. pink flowers

Nerium oleander L. is a widely used medicinal plant for pharmaceutical purposes. In this work, an extract of the pink flowers of this plant (FE) was characterized in terms of phenolic composition by LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS and bioactivity, namely, antioxidant and antiproliferative effects. A total of 20 compounds from different classes, including derivatives of phenolic acids and flavonoid glycosylated derivatives, were identified in FE. Chlorogenic acid was the dominant phenolic compound in the extract (62.28 ± 1.74 μg mg^-1 of dry extract). The antioxidant activity was assessed by ORAC assay, and FE showed an ability to reduce peroxyl radicals (ORAC value of 791.26 μmol TEAC per g DE). Additionally, the FE inhibited the proliferation of a colorectal cancer cell line (HT29 cells, EC₅₀ = 11.72 ± 0.02 μg mL^-1) and showed no cytotoxicity to confluent Caco-2 cells, a model of human intestinal epithelium. These results provide new information about the phenolic composition of Nerium oleander pink flowers and the bioactivity of the extracts.

Underutilized Mexican Plants: Screening of Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Properties of Mexican Cactus Fruit Juices

Cacti fruits are known to possess antioxidant and antiproliferative activities among other health benefits. The following paper evaluated the antioxidant capacity and bioactivity of five clarified juices from different cacti fruits (Stenocereus spp., Opuntia spp. and M. geomettizans) on four cancer cell lines as well as one normal cell line. Their antioxidant compositions were measured by three different protocols. Their phenolic compositions were quantified through high performance liquid chromatography and the percentages of cell proliferation of fibroblasts as well as breast, prostate, colorectal, and liver cancer cell lines were evaluated though in vitro assays. The results were further processed by principal component analysis. The clarified juice from M. geomettizans fruit showed the highest concentration of total phenolic compounds and induced cell death in liver and colorectal cancer cells lines as well as fibroblasts. The clarified juice extracted from yellow Opuntia ficus-indica fruit displayed antioxidant activity as well as a selective cytotoxic effect on a liver cancer cell line with no toxic effect on fibroblasts. In conclusion, the work supplies evidence on the antioxidant and antiproliferative activities that cacti juices possess, presenting potential as cancer cell proliferation preventing agents.

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.: A Multi-Benefit Potential to Be Exploited

Consumer interest in foods with enhanced nutritional quality has increased in recent years. The nutritional and bioactive characterization of fruits and their byproducts, as well as their use in the formulation of new food products, is advisable, contributing to decrease the global concerns related to food waste and food security. Moreover, the compounds present in these raw materials and the study of their biological properties can promote health and help to prevent some chronic diseases. Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (prickly pear) is a plant that grows wild in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world, being a food source for ones and a potential for others, but not properly valued. This paper carries out an exhaustive review of the scientific literature on the nutritional composition and bioactive compounds of prickly pear and its constituents, as well as its main biological activities and applications. It is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins and bioactive compounds. Many of its natural compounds have interesting biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic and antimicrobial. The antioxidant power of prickly pear makes it a good candidate as an ingredient of new food products with fascinating properties for health promotion and/or to be used as natural extracts for food, pharmaceutic or cosmetic applications. In addition, it could be a key player in food security in many arid and semi-arid regions of the world, where there are often no more plants.

Betacyanins, major components in Opuntia red-purple fruits, protect against acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure

Acetaminophen (APAP) misuse or overdose is the most important cause of drug-induced acute liver failure. Overdoses of acetaminophen induce oxidative stress and liver injury by the electrophilic metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). Plant-based medicine has been used for centuries against diseases or intoxications due to their biological activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic value of Opuntia robusta and Opuntia streptacantha fruit extracts against acetaminophen-induced liver damage and to identify the major biocomponents on them. Opuntia fruit extracts were obtained by peeling and squeezing each specie, followed by lyophilization. HPLC was used to characterize the extracts. The effect of the extracts against acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury was evaluated both in vivo and in vitro using biochemical, molecular and histological determinations. The results showed that betacyanins are the main components in the analyzed Opuntia fruit extracts, with betanin as the highest concentration. Therapeutic treatments with Opuntia extracts reduced biochemical, molecular and histological markers of liver (in vivo) and hepatocyte (in vitro) injury. Opuntia extracts reduced the APAP-increased expression of the stress-related gene Gadd45b. Furthermore, Opuntia extracts exerted diverse effects on the antioxidant related genes Sod2, Gclc and Hmox1, independent of their ROS-scavenging ability. Therefore, betacyanins as betanin from Opuntia robusta and Opuntia streptacantha fruits are promising nutraceutical compounds against oxidative liver damage.

Functional Attributes and Anticancer Potentialities of Chico (Pachycereus Weberi) and Jiotilla (Escontria Chiotilla) Fruits Extract

Mexico has a great diversity of cacti, however, many of their fruits have not been studied in greater depth. Several bioactive compounds available in cacti juices extract have demonstrated nutraceutical properties. Two cactus species are interesting for their biologically active pigments, which are chico (Pachycereus weberi (J. M. Coult.) Backeb)) and jiotilla (Escontria chiotilla (Weber) Rose)). Hence, the goal of this work was to evaluate the bioactive compounds, i.e., betalains, total phenolic, vitamin C, antioxidant, and mineral content in the extract of the above-mentioned P. weberi and E. chiotilla. Then, clarified extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity (cancer cell lines) potentialities. Based on the obtained results, Chico fruit extract was found to be a good source of vitamin C (27.19 ± 1.95 mg L-Ascorbic acid/100 g fresh sample). Moreover, chico extract resulted in a high concentration of micronutrients, i.e., potassium (517.75 ± 16.78 mg/100 g) and zinc (2.46 ± 0.65 mg/100 g). On the other hand, Jiotilla has a high content of biologically active pigment, i.e., betaxanthins (4.17 ± 0.35 mg/g dry sample). The antioxidant activities of clarified extracts of chico and jiotilla were 80.01 ± 5.10 and 280.88 ± 7.62 mg/100 g fresh sample (DPPH method), respectively. From the cytotoxicity perspective against cancer cell lines, i.e., CaCo-2, MCF-7, HepG2, and PC-3, the clarified extracts of chico showed cytotoxicity (%cell viability) in CaCo-2 (49.7 ± 0.01%) and MCF-7 (45.56 ± 0.05%). A normal fibroblast cell line (NIH/3T3) was used, as a control, for comparison purposes. While jiotilla extract had cytotoxicity against HepG2 (47.31 ± 0.03%) and PC-3 (53.65 ± 0.04%). These results demonstrated that Chico and jiotilla are excellent resources of biologically active constituents with nutraceuticals potentialities.

A Review on Opuntia Species and its Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology and Bioapplications

Background:

Opuntia species, locally known as prickly pear was used for various purposes as food, medicine, beverage, source of dye and animal food. Many studies have revealed its pharmacology activity from time to time. This review is a collection of chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacology and bioapplications of the cactus family.

Methods:

Many sources were used to collect information about Opuntia species such as Pub med, Google scholar, Agris, science direct, Embase, Merk index, Wiley online library, books and other reliable sources. This review contains studies from 1812 to 2019.

Results:

The plants from the cactus family offer various pharmacological active compounds including phenolic compounds, carotenoids, betalains, vitamins, steroids, sugar, amino acids, minerals and fibers. These bioactive compounds serve various pharmacological activities such as anticancer, antiviral, anti-diabetic, Neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, antibacterial, antiulcer and alcohol hangover. According to various studies, Opuntia species offer many bioapplications such as fodder for animal, soil erosion, prevention, human consumption and waste water decontamination. Finally, different parts of plants are used in various formulations that offer many biotechnology applications.

Conclusion:

Different parts of Opuntia plant (fruits, seeds, flowers and cladodes) are used in various health problems which include wound healing, anti-inflammatory and urinary tract infection from ancient times. Nowadays, researches have extended several pharmacological and therapeutic uses of Opuntia species as discussed in this review. Many in-vitro and in-vivo models are also discussed in this review as the proofs of research findings. Various research gaps have been observed in current studies that require attention in the future.

Therapeutic Application of Betalains: A Review

Anthocyanins, betalains, riboflavin, carotenoids, chlorophylls and caramel are the basic natural food colorants used in modern food manufacture. Betalains, which are composed of red–violet betacyanin and yellow betaxanthins, are water-soluble pigments that color flowers and fruits. Betalains are pigments primarily produced by plants of the order Caryophyllales. Because of their anti-inflammatory, cognitive impairment, anticancer and anti-hepatitis properties, betalains are useful as pharmaceutical agents and dietary supplements. Betalains also exhibit antimicrobial and antimalarial effects, and as an example, betalain-rich Amaranthus spinosus displays prominent antimalarial activity. Studies also confirmed the antidiabetic effect of betalains, which reduced glycemia by 40% without causing weight loss or liver impairment. These findings show that betalain colorants may be a promising alternative to the synthetic dyes currently used as food additives.

Stabilization of betalains by encapsulation-a review

Betalains are pigments that have properties that benefit health, such as antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial activity, and they also possess a high ability to provide color. However, these pigments, although used as colorants in certain foods, have not been able to be potentialized to diverse areas such as pharmacology, due to their instability to physicochemical factors such as high temperature, pH changes and high water activity. For this reason, different stabilization methods have been reported. The method that has presented best results for diversifying the use of betalains has been encapsulation. Encapsulation is a method of entrapment where the objective is to protect a compound utilizing more stable matrices from encapsulation technologies. This method has been employed to provide greater stability to betalains, using different matrices and encapsulation technologies. However, a review does not exist, to our knowledge, which analyzes the effect of matrices and encapsulation technologies on betalains stabilization. Therefore, the objective of this review article was to evaluate the different matrices and encapsulation techniques that have been employed to stabilize betalains, in order to arrive at specific conclusions concerning the effect of encapsulation on their stabilization and to propose new techniques and matrices that could promote their stabilization.

Volatile composition of prickly pear fruit pulp from six Spanish cultivars

This research analyzed the volatile composition of the fruits pulp of six prickly pear cultivars (NT, NE, NO, NA, FR, and ORI) growing in Spain, by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography (GC-MS and GC-FID). A total of 35 compounds were isolated, identified, and quantified, with aldehydes, alcohols, and terpenes being the predominant chemical families, and esters, ketones, linear hydrocarbons, and terpenoids being also found. Nonanol, 2,6-nonadienal, 1-hexanol, 2-hexenal, and D-limonene were the predominant compounds. NT and FR cultivars showed the highest concentration of total volatile compounds. On the other hand, NE and NO cultivars presented the lowest concentration. Future studies on sensory evaluation are required to determine the sensory quality of the fruits of these Spanish cultivars.

Antiproliferative, Antimicrobial, and Antifungal Activities of Polyphenol Extracts from Ferocactus Species

Polyphenols, obtained from natural resources, may possess important pharmacological effects. The polyphenolic profiles of the stem extracts of six Ferocactus species (sp.): F. gracilis, F. pottsii, F. herrerae, F. horridus, F. glaucescens, and F. emoryi, were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode-array detection (DAD). Additionally, anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal activities were examined. Results showed the presence of high to moderate amounts of polyphenols in the extracts (phenolic acids: Protocatechuic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, caffeic acid, and vanillic acid; flavonoids: Rutoside and quercitrin). The highest amounts of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid were found in F. glaucescens ((132.09 mg 100 g−1 dry weight (DW)), F. pottsii (75.71 mg 100 g−1 DW), and F. emoryi (69.14 mg 100 g−1 DW) while rutoside content was highest in F. glaucescens (107.66 mg 100 g−1 DW). Maximum antiproliferative activities were observed against HeLa and Jurkat cancer cells, with F. glaucescens, F. emoryi, and F. pottsii showing the highest anticancer activity. Most bacteria were sensitive to Ferocactus sp. stem extracts. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the most sensitive. Excellent antifungal effects were observed against Aspergillus ochraceus and A. niger. However, Penicillium funiculosum, P. ochrochloron, and Candida albicans were relatively resistant. This is the first study reporting novel sources of polyphenols in Ferocactus sp. with anticancer and antimicrobial activities.

Medicinal Plants in the Prevention and Treatment of Colon Cancer

The standard treatment for cancer is generally based on using cytotoxic drugs, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. However, the use of traditional treatments has received attention in recent years. The aim of the present work was to provide an overview of medicinal plants effective on colon cancer with special emphasis on bioactive components and underlying mechanisms of action. Various literature databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus, were used and English language articles were considered. Based on literature search, 172 experimental studies and 71 clinical cases on 190 plants were included. The results indicate that grape, soybean, green tea, garlic, olive, and pomegranate are the most effective plants against colon cancer. In these studies, fruits, seeds, leaves, and plant roots were used for in vitro and in vivo models. Various anticolon cancer mechanisms of these medicinal plants include induction of superoxide dismutase, reduction of DNA oxidation, induction of apoptosis by inducing a cell cycle arrest in S phase, reducing the expression of PI3K, P-Akt protein, and MMP as well; reduction of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins, and decrease of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin A, cyclin D1, cyclin B1 and cyclin E. Plant compounds also increase both the expression of the cell cycle inhibitors p53, p21, and p27, and the BAD, Bax, caspase 3, caspase 7, caspase 8, and caspase 9 proteins levels. In fact, purification of herbal compounds and demonstration of their efficacy in appropriate in vivo models, as well as clinical studies, may lead to alternative and effective ways of controlling and treating colon cancer.

Isorhamnetin glycoside isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) MilI induces apoptosis in human colon cancer cells through mitochondrial damage

This work aimed to evaluate the mechanisms involved in the apoptosis induction of isorhamnetin-3-O-glucosyl-pentoside (IGP) in metastatic human colon cancer cells (HT-29). To achieve this, we assessed phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure, cell membrane disruption, chromatin condensation, cell cycle alterations, mitochondrial damage, ROS production, and caspase-dependence on cell death. Our results showed that IGP induced cell death on HT-29 cells through PS exposure (48%) and membrane permeabilization (30%) as well as nuclear condensation (54%) compared with control cells. Moreover, IGP treatment induced cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase. Bax/Bcl-2 ratio increased and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (63%) was observed in IGP-treated cells. Finally, as apoptosis is a caspase-dependent cell death mechanism, we used a pancaspase-inhibitor (Q-VD-OPh) to demonstrate that the cell death induced by IGP was caspase-dependent. Overall these results indicated that IGP induced apoptosis through caspase-dependent mitochondrial damage in HT-29 colon cancer cells.

Digestion and Colonic Fermentation of Raw and Cooked Opuntia ficus-indica Cladodes Impacts Bioaccessibility and Bioactivity

The bioactivity of (poly)phenols from a food is an interplay between the cooking methods applied and the interaction of the food with the gastrointestinal tract. The (poly)phenolic profile and biological activity of raw and cooked cactus ( Opuntia ficus-indica Mill.) cladodes following in vitro digestion and colonic fermentation were evaluated. Twenty-seven (poly)phenols were identified and quantified by HPLC-ESI-MS, with piscidic acid being the most abundant. Throughout the colonic fermentation, flavonoids showed more degradation than phenolic acids, and eucomic acid remained the most relevant after 24 h. The catabolite 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid was generated after 24 h of fermentation. Cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and cell cycle analyses were performed in HT29 cells. Cactus colonic fermentates showed higher cell viability (≥80%) in comparison to the control fermentation with no cactus and significantly ( p < 0.05) reduced H₂O₂-induced DNA damage in HT29 cells. Results suggest that, although phenolic compounds were degraded during the colonic fermentation, the biological activity is retained in colon cells.

Phytochemical Profiling of Coryphantha macromeris (Cactaceae) Growing in Greenhouse Conditions Using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography⁻Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Chromatographic separation combined with mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for the characterization of plant metabolites because of its high sensitivity and selectivity. In this work, the phytochemical profile of aerial and radicular parts of Coryphantha macromeris (Engelm.) Britton & Rose growing under greenhouse conditions was qualitatively investigated for the first time by means of modern ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography⁻tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA-HESI-Orbitrap-MS/MS). The UHPLC-PDA-HESI-Orbitrap-MS/MS analysis indicated a high complexity in phenolic metabolites. In our investigation, 69 compounds were detected and 60 of them were identified. Among detected compounds, several phenolic acids, phenolic glycosides, and organic acids were found. Within this diversity, 26 metabolites were exclusively detected in the aerial part, and 19 in the roots. Twenty-four metabolites occurred in both plant parts. According to the relative abundance of peaks in the chromatogram, ferulic and piscidic acids and their derivatives may correspond to one of the main phenolic compounds of C. macromeris. Our results contribute to the phytochemical knowledge regarding C. macromeris and its potential applications in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Besides, some metabolites and their fragmentation patterns are reported here for the first time for cacti species.

Inhibitory Effect of Opuntia humifusa Fruit Water Extract on Solar Ultraviolet-Induced MMP-1 Expression

Opuntia humifusa is a type of cactus whose fruits have been used in folk medicine for the treatment of several diseases. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether O. humifusa fruit water extract (OHE) has inhibitory effects against solar ultraviolet (sUV)-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression. In ex vivo human skin, we found that OHE suppressed sUV radiation-induced MMP-1 expression. The inhibitory effect of OHE was confirmed in human dermal fibroblasts. OHE treatment reduced sUV-induced MMP-1 expression by suppressing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and phosphorylation of c-Jun, a component of transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP-1). On the other hand, OHE recovered the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and type 1 collagen production attenuated by sUV. As upstream signaling pathways for AP-1, MKK4-JNK, MEK-ERK, and MKK3/6-p38 phosphorylation were downregulated by OHE treatment. In addition, OHE exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity. These findings demonstrate that OHE has a preventive effect against sUV-induced skin damage via suppression of pathways triggered by ROS.

Opuntia (Cactaceae) plant compounds, biological activities and prospects - A comprehensive review

Opuntia species are utilized as local medicinal interventions for chronic diseases and as food sources mainly because they possess nutritional properties and biological activities. The Opuntia plant is distributed worldwide and has great economic potential. Differences in Opuntia species phytochemical composition exist between wild and domesticated species, and within species. Opuntia aerial and underground parts exhibit beneficial properties due to their phenolic content, other antioxidants (for example ascorbate), pigments (carotenoids, betalains), and other unidentified components. This work comprehensively reviews the phytochemical composition of the different aerial and underground plant parts of Opuntia species. The applications of Opuntia compounds and their biological activities are also discussed. Other topical aspects covered include Opuntia spp. taurine composition, Opuntia side effects, Opuntia by-products valorisation and the role of Opuntia spp. in tackling antimicrobial resistance. Although biological activities have been extensively researched, much less information is available on reaction mechanisms, herbal mixtures toxicology and commercialisation prospects - aspects which should be considered for future research in this area.

Characterization by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and antioxidant activity of an ethanolic extract of Inula viscosa leaves

Inula viscosa (I. viscosa) is a common Mediterranean plant, well known for its content on bioactive molecules. The chemical composition of an ethanolic extract from I. viscosa leaves, growing in Algeria, was analysed by liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS) operating in negative and positive mode. The methodology used revealed the presence of 51 compounds from which 47 were putatively identified, including 11 phenolic acids, 23flavonoids, one lignan and 12 terpenoids. Twenty-six of these compounds are described for the first time in I. viscosa. Antioxidant activity was measured using three different and complementary chemical assays: DPPH radical scavenging activity, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity (HOSC). Results demonstrate that ethanolic leaf extract exhibit a high scavenging ability against DPPH (157.72 ± 6.45 μM TE/g DW), peroxyl (4471.42 ± 113.16 μM TE/g DW) and hydroxyl (630.10 ± 17.81 μM TE/g DW) radicals, indicating that I. viscosa can be a promising source of bioactive compounds.

Polymethoxylated Flavones from Orange Peels Inhibit Cell Proliferation in a 3D Cell Model of Human Colorectal Cancer

Polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) have been recognized to inhibit colorectal cancer proliferation through various mechanisms, however most of these studies have been performed on cells grown as monolayers that present limitations in mimicking the 3D tumor architecture and microenvironment. The main aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer potential of an orange peel extract (OPE) enriched in PMFs in a 3D cell model of colorectal cancer. The OPE was developed by supercritical fluid extraction and the anticancer effect was evaluated in HT29 spheroids cultures in a stirred-tank based system. Results showed that OPE inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest (G2/M phase), promoted apoptosis, and reduced ALDH⁺ population on HT29 spheroids. The antiproliferative activity was significantly lower than that obtained for 2D model (EC50 value of 0.43 ± 0.02 mg/mL) and this effect was dependent on diameter and cell composition/phenotype of spheroids derived from different culture days (day 3 - 0.53 ± 0.05 mg/mL; day 5 - 0.55 ± 0.03 mg/mL; day 7 - 1.24 ± 0.15 mg/mL). HT29 spheroids collected at day 7 presented typical characteristics of in vivo solid tumors including a necrotic/apoptotic core, hypoxia regions, presence of cancer stem cells, and a less differentiated invasive front. Nobiletin, sinesentin, and tangeretin were identified as the main compounds responsible for the anticancer activity.

Targeting Colorectal Cancer Proliferation, Stemness and Metastatic Potential Using Brassicaceae Extracts Enriched in Isothiocyanates: A 3D Cell Model-Based Study

Colorectal cancer (CRC) recurrence is often attributable to circulating tumor cells and/or cancer stem cells (CSCs) that resist to conventional therapies and foster tumor progression. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) derived from Brassicaceae vegetables have demonstrated anticancer effects in CRC, however little is known about their effect in CSCs and tumor initiation properties. Here we examined the effect of ITCs-enriched Brassicaceae extracts derived from watercress and broccoli in cell proliferation, CSC phenotype and metastasis using a previously developed three-dimensional HT29 cell model with CSC-like traits. Both extracts were phytochemically characterized and their antiproliferative effect in HT29 monolayers was explored. Next, we performed cell proliferation assays and flow cytometry analysis in HT29 spheroids treated with watercress and broccoli extracts and respective main ITCs, phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and sulforaphane (SFN). Soft agar assays and relative quantitative expression analysis of stemness markers and Wnt/β-catenin signaling players were performed to evaluate the effect of these phytochemicals in stemness and metastasis. Our results showed that both Brassicaceae extracts and ITCs exert antiproliferative effects in HT29 spheroids, arresting cell cycle at G₂/M, possibly due to ITC-induced DNA damage. Colony formation and expression of LGR5 and CD133 cancer stemness markers were significantly reduced. Only watercress extract and PEITC decreased ALDH1 activity in a dose-dependent manner, as well as β-catenin expression. Our research provides new insights on CRC therapy using ITC-enriched Brassicaceae extracts, specially watercress extract, to target CSCs and circulating tumor cells by impairing cell proliferation, ALDH1-mediated chemo-resistance, anoikis evasion, self-renewal and metastatic potential.

Opuntia spp.: Characterization and Benefits in Chronic Diseases

Opuntia species have been used for centuries as food resources and in traditional folk medicine for their nutritional properties and their benefit in chronic diseases, particularly diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. These plants are largely distributed in America, Africa, and the Mediterranean basin. Opuntia spp. have great economic potential because they grow in arid and desert areas, and O. ficus-indica, the domesticated O. species, is used as a nutritional and pharmaceutical agent in various dietary and value-added products. Though differences in the phytochemical composition exist between wild and domesticated (O. ficus-indica) Opuntia spp., all Opuntia vegetatives (pear, roots, cladodes, seeds, and juice) exhibit beneficial properties mainly resulting from their high content in antioxidants (flavonoids, ascorbate), pigments (carotenoids, betalains), and phenolic acids. Other phytochemical components (biopeptides, soluble fibers) have been characterized and contribute to the medicinal properties of Opuntia spp. The biological properties of Opuntia spp. have been investigated on cellular and animal models and in clinical trials in humans, allowing characterization and clarification of the protective effect of Opuntia-enriched diets in chronic diseases. This review is an update on the phytochemical composition and biological properties of Opuntia spp. and their potential interest in medicine.

Coloring attributes of betalains: a key emphasis on stability and future applications

Organoleptic characteristics largely determine food acceptance, selection, and subsequent consumption.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Opuntia robusta and Opuntia streptacantha Fruits against Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Liver Damage

Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver failure (ALF) is a serious health problem in developed countries. N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), the current therapy for APAP-induced ALF, is not always effective, and liver transplantation is often needed. Opuntia spp. fruits are an important source of nutrients and contain high levels of bioactive compounds, including antioxidants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Opuntia robusta and Opuntia streptacantha extracts against APAP-induced ALF. In addition, we analyzed the antioxidant activities of these extracts. Fruit extracts (800mg/kg/day, orally) were given prophylactically to male Wistar rats before intoxication with APAP (500 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). Rat hepatocyte cultures were exposed to 20mmol/LAPAP, and necrosis was assessed by LDH leakage. Opuntia robusta had significantly higher levels of antioxidants than Opuntia streptacantha. Both extracts significantly attenuated APAP-induced injury markers AST, ALT and ALP and improved liver histology. The Opuntia extracts reversed APAP-induced depletion of liver GSH and glycogen stores. In cultured hepatocytes, Opuntia extracts significantly reduced leakage of LDH and cell necrosis, both prophylactically and therapeutically. Both extracts appeared to be superior to NAC when used therapeutically. We conclude that Opuntia extracts are hepatoprotective and can be used as a nutraceutical to prevent ALF.