Health benefits and bioactive components of the fruits from Opuntia ficus-indica [L.] Mill

Journal of the Professional Association for Cactus Development

Volumn 8, Issue , 2006, Pages 73-90

  Livrea, Maria A ^a   Tesoriere, Luisa ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF PALERMO   (Italy)

Author keywords

Betalains; Betanin; Edible cactus; Free radical scavengers; Health benefits; In vitro; In vivo; Indicaxanthin; Natural oxidants; Opuntia ficus indica

Indexed keywords

CACTACEAE; OPUNTIA; OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA; PYRUS;

EID: 41649116224     PISSN: 19386648     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Review

References (96)

1. Allegra, M., Furtmuller, P.G., Jantschko, W., Zederbauer, M., Tesoriere, L., Livrea, M.A., Obinger, C. (2005) Mechanism of interaction of betanin and indicaxanthin with human myeloperoxidase and hypochlorous acid. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 332:837-844.
2. Allegra, M., Tesoriere, L., Livrea, M.A. (2006) Betanin inhibits the myeloperoxidase/nitrite-induced oxidation of human low-density lipoproteins. Free Radic. Res. in press.
3. Ames, B.; Shigenaga, M.K.; Hagen, T.M. (1993) Oxidants, antioxidants and the degenerative disease of aging. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 90:7915-7922.
4. Badimon, L., Martinez-Gonzalez, J., Llorente-Cortes, V., Rodriguez, C., Padro, T. (2006) Cell biology and lipoproteins in atherosclerosis. Curr. Mol. Med. 5:439-456.
5. Burner, U., Furtmuller, P.G., Kettle, A.J., Koppenol, W.H., Obinger, C. (2000) Mechanism of reaction of myeloperoxidase with nitrite. J. Biol. Chem. 275:20597-20601.
6. Butera, D.; Tesoriere, L.; Di Gaudio, F.; Bongiorno, A.; Allegra, M.; Pintaudi, A.M.; Kohen, R.; Livrea, M.A. (2002) Antioxidant activities of Sicilian prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit extracts and reducing properties of its betalains: betanin and indicaxanthin. J. Agric. Food Chem. 50:6895-6901.
7. Byun, J., Mueller, D.M., Fabjan, J.S., Heinecke, J.W. (1999) Nitrogen dioxide radical generated by the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-nitrite system promotes lipid peroxidation of low density lipoprotein FEBS Lett. 455:243-246.
8. Cai, Y., Sun, M., Corke, H. (2003) Antioxidant activity of Betalains from plants of the Amaranthaceae. J. Agric. Food Chem. 51:2288-2294.
9. Cai, Y., Sun, M., Schliemann W., Corke, H. (2001) Chemical stability and colorant properties of betaxanthin pigments from Celosia argentea. J. Agric. Food Chem. 49:4429-4435.
10. Carman, C.V., Jun, C.D., Salas, A., Springer, T.A. (2003) Endothelial cells proactively form microvilli-like membrane projections upon intracellular adhesion molecule-1 engagement of leukocyte LFA-1. J. Immunol. 171:6135-6144.
11. Castellar, R., Obon, J.M., Alacid, M., Fernandez-Lopez, J.A. (2003) Color properties and stability of betacyanins from Opuntia fruits. J. Agric. Food Chem. 51:2772-2776.
12. Chiu, D.T., van den Berg, J., Kuypers, F.A., Hung, I.J., Wie, J.S., Liu, T.Z. (1996) Correlation of membrane lipid peroxidation with oxidation of hemoglobin variants: possibly related to the rates of hemin release. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 21:89-95.
13. Cornett, J. (2000) How Indians used desert plants. Nature Trails Press.
14. D'Alessio, P. (2002) Endothelium as a pharmacological target. Curr. Op. Invest. Drugs 2:1720-1724.
15. D'Alessio, P. (2004) Aging and the endothelium. Exp. Gerontol. 36:165-171.
16. Das, N., Chowdhury, T.D., Chattopadhyay A., Datta, A.G. (2004) Attenuation of oxidative stress-induced changes in thalassemic erythrocytes by vitamin E. Polish J. Pharmacol. 56:85-96.
17. Devamanoharan, P.S.; Ali, A.H.; Varma, S.D. (1998) Oxidative stress to rat lens in vitro: protection by taurine. Free Radic. Res. 29:189-195.
18. Escribano, J., Pedreno, M.A., Garcia-Carmona, F., Munoz, R. (1998) Characterization of the antiradical activity of betalains from Beta vulgaris L. roots. Phytochem. Anal. 9:124-127.
19. Everse J. (1998) The structure of heme proteins Compounds I and II: some misconceptions. Free Radic. Biol.Med. 24:1338-1346.
20. Fernandez-Lopez, J.A., Almela, L. (2001) Application of high-performance liquid chromatography to the characterization of the betalain pigments in prickly pear fruits. J. Chromatogr. A 913:415-420.
21. Forni, E., Polesello, A., Montefiori, D., Maestrelli, A. (1992) High-performance liquid Chromatographic analysis of the pigments of blood-red prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica). J. Chromatogr. 593:177-183.
22. Frank, T., Stinzing, F.C., Carle, R., Bitsch, I., Quaas, D., Strass, G., Bitsch, R., Netzel, M. (2005) Urinary pharmacokinetics of betalains following consumption of red beet juice in healthy humans. Pharmacol. Res., 52:290-297.
23. Furtmuller, P.G., Obinger, C., Hsuanyu, Y., Dunford, H.B. (2000) Mechanism of reaction of myeloperoxidase with hydrogen peroxide and chloride ion. Eur. J. Biochem. 267:5858-5864.
24. Galati, E.M., Mondello, M.R., Giuffrida, D., Dugo, G., Miceli, N., Pergolizzi, S., Taviano, M.F. (2003) Chemical characterization and biological effects of Sicilian Opuntia ficus-indica [L.] Mill. Fruit juice: antioxidant and antiulcerogenic activity. J. Agric. Food Chem. 51:4903-4908.
25. Galati, E.M., Mondello, M.R., Lauriano, E.R., Taviano, M.F., Galluzzo, M., Miceli, N. (2005) Opuntia ficus-indica [L] Mill. fruit juice protects liver from carbon tetrachloride induced injury. Phytother. Res. 19:796-800.
26. Gentile, C., Tesoriere, L., Allegra, M., Livrea, M.A., D'Alessio, P. (2004) Antioxidant betalains from cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) inhibit endothelial ICAM-1 expression. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1028:481-486.
27. Grinberg, L.N., Rachmilewitz, E.A., Newmark, H. (1994) Protective effects of ratine against hemoglobin oxidation. Biochem. Pharmacol. 48:643-649.
28. Grinberg, L.N., Rachmilewitz, E.A., Kitrossky, N., Chevion, M. (1995) Hydroxyl radical generation hi beta-thalassemic red blood cells. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 18:611-615.
29. Ha, H.J., Kwon, Y.S., Park, S.M., Shin, T.K., Park J.H., Kim, H.C., Kwon, M.S., Wie, M.B. (2003) Quercetin attenuates oxygen-glucose deprivation-and excitotoxin-induced neurotoxicity in primary cortical cell cultures. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bull. 26:544-549.
30. rd edn. Oxford University Press.
31. Halliwell, B., Zhao, K., Whiteman, M. (2001) The gastrointestinal tract: a major site of antioxidant action? Free Radic Res. 33:819-80.
32. Hazell, L.J., Arnold, L., Flowers, D., Waeg, G., Malle, E., Stocker, R. (1996) Presence of hypochlorite-modified proteins in human atherosclerotic lesions. J. Clin. Invest. 97:1535-1544.
33. Hazell, L.J., Stocker, R. (1993) Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein with hypochlorite causes transformation of the lipoprotein into a high-uptake form for macrophages. Biochem. J. 290:165-172.
34. Heinecke, J.W. (1998) Oxidants and antioxidants in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis: implications for the oxidized low density lipoprotein hypothesis. Atherosclerosis 141:1-15.
35. Janero, D.R. (1990) Malondialdehyde and thiobarbituric acid-reactivity as diagnostic indices of lipid peroxidation and peroxidative tissue injury. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 9:515-540.
36. Kalra, E.K. (2003) Nutraceutical - Definition and Introduction. AAPS Pharm. Sci. 5:article 25. DOI: 10.1208/ps050225.
37. Kanner, J., Harel, S., Granit, R. Betalains-A new class of dietary cationized antioxidants. (2001) J. Agric. Food Chem. 49:5178-5185.
38. Kanner, J., Lapidot, T. (2001) The stomach as a bioreactor: dietary lipid peroxidation in the gastric fluid and the effects of plant-derived antioxidants. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 31:1388-1395.
39. Kim, J.H., Park, S.M., Ha, H.J., Moon, C.J., Shin, T.K., Kim, J.M., Lee, N.H., Kim, H.C., Jang K.J., Wie, M.B. (2006) Opuntia ficus-indica attenuates neuronal injury in in vitro and in vivo models of cerebral ischemia. J. Ethnopharmacol. 104:257-262.
40. Klebanoff, S.J. (1975) Antimicrobial mechanisms in neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Seminar Haematol. 12:117-142.
41. Klebanoff, S.J. (2005) Myeloperoxidase: friend and foe. J. Leukoc Biol. 77:598-625.
42. Knishinsky, R. (1971) Prickly pear cactus medicine. Healing Art Press, Rochester, Vermont.
43. Kostyuk, V.A., Kraemer, T., Sies, H., Schewe, T. (2003) Myeloperoxidase/nitrite-mediated lipid peroxidation of low-density lipoprotein as modulated by flavonoids. FEBS Lett. 537:146-150.
44. Kuti, J.O. (2004) Antioxidant compounds from four Opuntia cactus pear fruit varieties. Food Chem. 85:527-533.
45. Lampe, J.W. (1999) Health effects of vegetables and fruits: assessing mechanism of action in human experimental studies. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 70:475-490.
46. Lee, J., Koo, N., Min, D.B. (2004) Reactive oxygen species, aging, and antioxidant nutraceuticals. Comprehens. Rev. Food Sci. Food Safety 3:21-33.
47. Lee, C.H., Wettasinghe, M., Boiling, B.W., Ji, L.L., Parkin, K.L. (2005) Betalains, phase II enzyme-inducing components from red beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) extracts. Nutr. Cancer 53:91-103.
48. Leeuwenburgh, C., Hardy, M.M., Hazen, S.L., Wagner, P., Oh-ishi, S., Steinbrecher, U.P., Heinecke, J.W. (1997) Reactive nitrogen intermediates promote low density lipoprotein oxidation in human atherosclerotic intima. J. Biol. Chem. 272:1433-1436.
49. Livrea, M. A., Tesoriere, L. (2004) Antioxidant Activities of Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) Fruit and Its Betalains: Betanin and Indicaxanthin. in: Packer, L., Ong, C.N., Halliwell, B. (Eds.) Herbal and Traditional Medicine: Molecular Aspects of Health. Marcel Dekker, Inc., pp. 537-556.
50. Machlin, L.J. (1991) Vitamin E. in: Handbook of Vitamins. Machlin, L.J. (Ed.) Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York, pp. 99-144.
51. Martínez Parra, J., Munoz, R. (1997) An approach to the characterization of betanine oxidation catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase. J. Agric. Food Chem. 45:2984-2988.
52. Martinez-Parra, J., Munoz R. (2001) Characterization of betacyanin oxidation catalyzed by a peroxidase from Beta vulgaris L. roots. J. Agric. Food Chem. 49:4064-4068.
53. Miller, N.J., Rice-Evans, C.A. (1996) Spectrophotometric determination of antioxidant activity. Redox Report 2:161-171.
54. Mosshammer, M.R., Stinzing, F.C., Carle, R. (2005) Development of a process for the production of a betalain-based colouring foodstuff from cactus pear. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies 6:221-231.
55. Navab, M., Ananthramaiah, G.M., Reddy, S.T., Van Lenten, B.J., Ansell, B.J., Fonarow, G.C., Vahabzadeh, K., Hama, S., Hough, G., Kamranpour, N., Berliner, J.A., Lusis, A.J., Fogelman, A.M. (2004) The oxidation hypothesis of atherogenesis: the role of oxidized phospholipids and HDL. J. Lipid Res. 45:993-1007.
56. Pedreno, M.A., Escribano, J. (2000) Studying the oxidation and the antiradical activity of betalain from beetroot. J. Biol. Educ. 35:49-51.
57. Peterson, J., Dwyer, J. (1998) Flavonoids: dietary occurrence and biochemical activity. Nutr. Res. 12:1995-2018.
58. Piattelli, M. (1981) The betalains: structure, biosynthesis and chemical taxonomy. In The Biochemistry of Plants: A Comprehensive Treatise. Conn EE (Ed) Academic Press, New York, vol.7, pp. 557-575.
59. Piga, A., Del Caro, A., Pinna, L, Agabbio, M. (2003) Changes in ascorbic acid, polyphenol content and antioxidant activity in minimally processed cactus pear fruits. Lebensm-Wiss Technol 36:257-262.
60. Reddy, M.K., Alexander-Lindo R.L., Nair, M.G. (2005) Relative inhibition of lipid peroxidation, cydoxygenase enzymes, and human tumor cell proliferation by natural food colors. J. Agric. Food Chem. 53:9268-9273.
61. Reynoso, R., Garcia, F.A., Morales, D., Gonzalez de Mejia E. (1997) Stability of betalain pigments from acactacea fruit. J. Agric. Food Chem. 45:2884-2889.
62. Rice-Evans, C.A., Miller, N.J. (1985) Antioxidants: the case of fruit and vegetables in the diet. Brit Food J. 97:35-40.
63. 2- isoprostanes as an index of oxidative stress in vivo. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 28:505-513.
64. Ross, R. (1999) Atherosclerosis-an inflammatory disease. New Engl. J. Med. 340:115-126.
65. Ross, J.A., Kasum C.M. (2002) Dietary flavonoids: bioavailability, metabolic effects, and safety. Annu. Rev. Nutr. 22:19-34.
66. Rund, D., Rachmilewitz, E. (2005) Beta-thalassemia. New Engl. J. Med. 353:1135-46.
67. Saenz, C. (1996) Food products from cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica). Food Chain 18:10-11.
68. Scalbert, A., Morand, C., Manach, C., Remesy, C. (2002) Absorption and metabolism of polyphenols in the gut and impact on health. Biomed. Pharmacother. 56:276-282.
69. Scott, M.D., van den Berg, J.J., Repka, T., Rouyer-Fessard, P., Hebbel, R.P., Beuzard, Y., Lubin, B.H. (1993) Effect of excess alpha-hemoglobin chains on cellular and membrane oxidation in model beta-thalassemic erythrocytes. J. Clin. Invest. 91:1706-1712.
70. Sepulveda, E., Saenz, C. (1990) Chemical and physical characteristics of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) pulp. Revista de Agroquimica y tecnologia de alimentos 30:551-555.
71. Sies, H. (1991) Oxidative stress II. Oxidants and antioxidants. Academic Press, London.
72. Simmons, D.L., Botting, R.M., Hla, T. (2004) Cyclooxygenase isozymes: the biology of prostaglandin synthesis and inhibition. Pharmacol Rev. 56:387-437.
73. Steglich, W., Strack, D. (1990) Betalains. In: The Alkaloids, Chemistry and Pharmacology. Brossi A (Ed) Academic Press, London, pp. 1-62.
74. Steinberg, D., Parthasarathy, S., Carew, T.E., Khoo, J.C., Witztum, J.L. (1989) Beyond cholesterol. Modifications of low-density lipoprotein that increase its atherogenicity. New Engl. J. Med. 320:915-924.
75. Stintzing, F.C., Schieber, A., Carle, R. (1999) Amino acid composition and betaxanthin formation in fruits from Opuntia ficus-indica. Planta Med. 65:632-635.
76. Stintzing, F.C., Schieber, A., Carle, R. (2002) Identification of betalains from yellow beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and cactus pear [Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.] by high-performance liquid chromatography- electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. J. Agric. Food Chem. 50:2302-2307.
77. Talalay, P. (1989) Mechanisms of induction of enzymes that protect against chemical carcinogenesis. Adv. Enzyme Regul. 28:237-250.
78. Tesoriere, L., D'Arpa, D.. Butera, D., Allegra, M., Renda, D., Maggio, A., Bongiomo, A., Livrea, M.A. (2001) Oral supplements of vitamin E improve measures of oxidative stress in plasma and reduce oxidative damage to LDL and erythrocytes in beta-thalassemia intermedia patients. Free Radic. Res. 34:529-540.
79. Tesoriere, L., Butera, D., D'Arpa, D., Di Gaudio, F., Allegra, M., Gentile, C., Livrea, M.A. (2003) Increased resistance to oxidation of betalain-enriched human low density lipoproteine. Free Radic. Res. 37:689-696.
80. Tesoriere, L.; Butera, D., Pintaudi, A.M., Allegra, M., Livrea, M.A. (2004a) Supplementation with cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruits decreases oxidative stress in healthy humans. A comparative study with vitamin C. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 80:391-395.
81. Tesoriere, L., Allegra, M., Butera, D., Livrea, M.A. (2004b) Absorption, excretion, and distribution in low density lipoproteine of dietary antioxidant betalains. Potential health effects of betalains in humans. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 80:941-945.
82. Tesoriere, L., Butera, D., Allegra, M., Fazzari, M., Livrea, M.A. (2005a) Distribution of betalain pigments in red blood cells after consumption of cactus pear fruits and increased resistance of the cells to ex vivo-induced oxidative hemolysis in humans. J. Agr. Food Chem. 53:1266-1270.
83. Tesoriere, L., Fazzari, M., Allegra, M., Livrea, M.A. (2005b) Biothiols, taurine, and lipid-soluble antioxidants in the edile pulp of Sicilian cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruits and changes of bioactive juice components upon industrial processing. J. Agric. Food Chem. 53:7851-7855.
84. Tesoriere, L., Allegra, M., Butera, D., Gentile, C., Livrea M.A. (2006a) Cytoprotective effects of the antioxidant phytochemical indicaxanthin in β-thalassemia red blood cells. Free Radic. Res. 40:753-761.
85. Tesoriere, L., Allegra, M., Butera, D., Gentile, C., Livrea, M. A. (2006b) Kinetics of the lipoperoxyl radical-scavenging activity of indicaxanthin in solution and unilamellar liposomes. Free Radic. Res., in press.
86. Trichopoulou, A., Vasilopoulou, E. (2000) Mediterranean diet and longevity. Br. J. Nutr. 84:8205-209.
87. Ursini, F., Sevanian, A. (2002) Wine polyphenols and optimal nutrition. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 957:200-209.
88. Van der Vliet, A., Eiserich, J.P., Halliwell, B., Cross, C.E. (1997) Formation of reactive nitrogen species during peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of nitrite. A potential additional mechanism of nitric oxide-dependent toxicity. J. Biol. Chem. 72:7617-7625.
89. Van Dyke, B., Saltman, P. (1996) Hemoglobin: a mechanism for the generation of hydroxyl radicals. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 20:985-989.
90. Volkard, N.B., Reeder, B.J., Shearman, J.P., Menu, P., Wilson, M.T., Cooper, C.E. (2005) A new sensitive assay reveals that hemoglobin is oxidatively modified in vivo Free Radic. Biol. Med. 39:1216-1228.
91. Wang, H., Nair, M.G., Strasburg, G.M., Chang, Y.C., Booren, A.M., Gray, J.I., DeWitt, D.L. (1999) Antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of anthocyanins and their aglycon, cyanidin, from tart cherries. J. Nat. Prod. 62:802-807.
92. Watts, A.R., Lennard, M.L., Tucker, G.T., Woods, H.J. (1993) Beeturia and the biological fate of beetroot pigments. Pharmacogenetics 3:302-311.
93. Weiss, S.J., Klein, R., Slivka, A., Wei, M. (1982) Chlorination of taurine by human neutrophils. J. Clin. Invest. 70:598-607.
94. Wie, M.B. (2000) Protective effects of Opuntia ficus-indica and Saururus chinensis on free radical-induced neuronal injury in mouse cortical cell cultures. Kakhak Hoiji 44:613.
95. Wyler, H. (1969) Die Betalaine. Chiuz 3:146-151.
96. Zou, D.M., Brewer, M., Garcia, F., Feugang, J.M., Wang, J., Zang, R., Liu, H., Zou C. (2005) Cactus pear: a natural product in cancer chemoprevention. Nutr. J. 4:25-36.