Opuntia ficus-indica, commonly known as Prickly Pear Cactus or Nopal Cactus, is a dicotyledonous angiosperm plant. It belongs to the Cactus family and is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to arid and semi-arid climates in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe.
Compelling evidence of the potential nutritional and health benefits of this cactus has been provided by academic scientists and private companies.
Notably, its rich composition in Polyphenols, Vitamins, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Amino Acids has been clearly demonstrated through the use of a variety of extraction methods. Identified natural cactus compounds and derivatives have been shown to possess biologically relevant activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antibacterial and neuroprotective properties. terrible.
The present review aims to highlight the main constituents of Cactus and their medicinal interest through focusing on some of their biological effects, especially those that have health benefits and most promising treatment effects.
