Korean J Nutr.  2012 Oct;45(5):462-469. 10.4163/kjn.2012.45.5.462.

Effect of prickly pear cactus (Opuntina ficus-indica) intake on blood lipids, platelet aggregation, antioxidant and liver parameters in volunteer diving woman

• Han SG
• Kang MS
• Ryou SH
• Hwang SW
• Kang JS

• KMID: 2268741
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/kjn.2012.45.5.462

Abstract

We investigated dietary effects of prickly pear cactus (Opuntina ficus-indica) on plasma lipids, platelet aggregation (PA), hemolysis, plasma TBARS and liver enzymes. Twenty eight volunteer diving women in Jeju island had daily 20 g cactus tea containing 27% prickly pear cactus (PPC) powder for 4 weeks, and data for the study subjects were analyzed, on the basis of diagnostic criteria for blood pressure (BP)(> or = 140/90 mmHg), plasma cholesterol (> or = 200 mg/dL) and triglyceride (> or = 150 mg/dL). The subjects with higher BP had higher plasma total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations than those with normal BP. Those with higher TC also had higher TG. Subjects with normal BP or normal TC had higher initial slope of PA than their higher counterpart in BP and TC. PPC intake decreased plasma TG in those with higher BP. PPC intake significantly decreased the elevated initial slope in groups with normal BP, TC, and TG. Hemolysis after PPC intake decreased significantly in all the subjects and plasma TBARS decreased in the subjects with higher plasma TC and higher TG. Glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) significantly increased and total bilirubin significantly decreased in all the subjects after PPC intake. The present study with diving women showed that beneficial effects of short term intake of prickly pear cactus might differ depending on the subject conditions in term of blood pressure, and plasma lipids. However, long term usage of prickly pear cactus may provide preventive effects of cardiovascular diseases to all the population, presumably by hypolipidemic, antithrombotic, and antioxidant actions of its bioactive flavonoids and soluble fiber.

Keyword

prickly pear cactus; hypolipidemic; antithrombotic; antioxidant; women

MeSH Terms

Aspartate Aminotransferases
Bilirubin
Blood Platelets
Blood Pressure
Cactaceae
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cholesterol
Diving
Female
Flavonoids
Hemolysis
Humans
Liver
Opuntia
Plasma
Platelet Aggregation
Tea
Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Bilirubin
Cholesterol
Flavonoids
Tea
Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Comparison of plasma lipids before and after prickly pear cactus intake based on diagnostic criteria for blood pressure (BP), total-cholesterol (T-chol), and triglyceride (TG). *: p < 0.05.

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  Fig. 2 Comparison of hernatocrit and platelet aggregation before and after prickly pear cactus intake based on diagnostic criteria for blood pressure (BP), total-cholesterol (T-chol), and triglyceride (TG). *: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01.

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  Fig. 3 Comparison of hemolysis and plasma TBARS before and after prickly pear cactus intake based on diagnostic criteria for blood pressure (BP), total-cholesterol (T-chol), and triglyceride (TG). *: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01.

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  Fig. 4 Comparison of plasma GOT, GPT, alkaline phosphatase, and T-bilirubin before and after prickly pear cactus intake based on diagnostic criteria for blood pressure (BP), total-cholesterol (T-chol), and triglyceride (TG). *: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01.

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