Opuntia (Feigenkaktus) und seine Bedeutung
Der Feigenkaktus (Opuntia ficus-indica) auch unter Nopal bekannt,
ist ein sehr wertvoller Vitalstofflieferant. In ihm vereinen sich in sehr hoher Konzentration die Vitamine A, B1, B2 und C, sowie die Mineralstoffen und Spurenelemente Kalium, Calcium, Phosphor, Natrium und Eisen.
Zudem verfügt der Nopal über einen außerordentlich hohen Anteil Pektin. Das macht den Nopal so interessant für den Kampf gegen zu hohes Cholesterin. Das Pektin des Nopal vermindert das schädliche LDL-Cholesterin. Das schützende, gute HDL-Cholesterin hingegen wird vermehrt.
Was kann Nopal bewirken?
- ein Absinken des Cholesterinspiegels
- eine Verringerung der Glukose- und Insulinkonzentration (Blutzuckerspiegel)
- eine Minderung der Triglyceride (Blutfettwerte)
Erfahrungen und Studien belegen, dass der Nopal weitere positive
Wirkungen hat:
- schützt vor Erkältung
- hilft gegen Atemwegserkrankungen
- hemmt Entzündungen
- wirkt schleimlösend
- lindert rheumatische Beschwerden
- aktiviert die Arbeit der Drüsen
- fördert das allgemeine Wohlbefinden
- beugt gegen Lippenherpes vor
- wirkt günstig auf die Magenschleimhaut
nach obenKaktusfeigen, Köstlichkeiten aus der Wüste
Auszug aus: Barbara Simonsohn,
"Heilkraft aus den Tropen - die süße Medizin exotischer Früchte"
Die Heimat des Feigenkaktus ist Mexiko. Für die indianischen Ureinwohner bedeuteten Kaktusfeigen eine wichtige Nahrungsgrundlage. Die Mexikaner stellen Trockenfrüchte, Sirup, Opuntienkäse und auch alkoholische Getränke aus den Früchten her, und Opuntiensprossen werden als Gemüse gegessen. Heute wird der Feigenkaktus in allen trockenen Gebieten der Subtropen angebaut. Anfang des 16.Jahrhunderts wurde die Pflanze von den Spaniern in das Mittelmeergebiet eingeführt, wo sie oft wild wächst. Kaktusfeigen werden auch Kaktusbirne genannt und stammen vom Kaktus Opuntioa ficus-indica. „Sabr" heißt der Indische Feigenkaktus auf Arabisch, und das bedeutet so viel wie Geduld und Ausdauer. Opuntien reichern den Boden mit Humus an und speichern Wasser. In Australien, Südafrika, Indien und Hawaii wurde er zu einer Landplage, weil er leicht verwildert und dann ein undurchdringliches Dickicht bildet. In den Mittelmeerländern wird der Feigenkaktus als Einzäunung gepflanzt. In Südspanien, in Süditalien und auf Sizilien ist die Kaktusfeige ein wichtiges Nahrungsmittel.
Opuntien können bis zu 4 Meter hoch wachsen. An den Rändern der Sprosse bilden sich 10 Zentimeter große, schalenartige, schwefelgelbe Blüten. Die Beerenfrüchte sind gelbgrün, rosa oder rot und etwa so groß wie Hühnereier. Die kleinen schwarzen Samen werden mit verzehrt.
Bei den Opuntien, die essbare Früchte produzieren, gibt es bestachelte und stachellose Formen. In Wüstengebieten stellen die stachellosen Blätter ein wichtiges Futter für Kamele und Ziegen dar. Bei Berührung der Glieder und auch der Früchte stacheliger Sorten brechen winzige Stacheln ab, die so genannten Glochidien, welche die größeren Stacheln umgeben. Sie bleiben in der Haut stecken. Man kann warmes Kerzenwachs auf die betroffene Hautstelle tropfen, es erkalten lassen und es dann abziehen. Die Früchte werden mit einem Messer der Länge nach aufgeschnitten. Sie schmecken ausgezeichnet süßlich und erfrischend.
Für viele Menschen Amerikas stellen Kaktusfeigen ein Grundnahrungsmittel dar, einige leben drei Monate fast ausschließlich davon, und die Früchte werden auch „Brot der trockenen Gegenden" genannt.
Inhaltsstoffe der Kaktusfeigen
Kaktusfeigen enthalten zwischen 9 und 14% Zucker, und zwar Clucose und Fructose zu gleichen Teilen. An Farbstoffen wurden die rotvioletten Betacyanine Betanin und Isobetanin, welche aus roten Beeren bekannt sind, identifiziert, und als gelbes Betaxanthin das Indicaxanthin. Kaktusfeigen enthalten 42 mg Vitamin C pro 100 Gramm, das ist die Hälfte des Tagesbedarfs, sowie Thiamin und Niacin. Kaktursfeigen sind ausgesprochen reich an Magnesium und eine gute Kaliumquelle. Außerdem enthalten sie Kalzium und 23 mg Vitamin C pro 100 Gramm.
Die Heilkraft der Kaktusfeigen
In Süditalien werden Kaktusfeigen von Ärzten zur Behandlung von Krankheiten der Niere und der harnableitenden Organe empfohlen. Kaktusfeigen helfen gegen Verstopfung. Beim Verzehr größerer Mengen färbt sich auch der Urin rot, was aber keineswegs gesundheitsschädlich ist. Den Früchten wird eine den Cholesterin senkende und blutreinigende Wirkung nachgesagt.
Wirkung auf der seelischen Eben
Kaktusfeigen machen einen klaren Kopf und schenken Optimismus. Auf den Kanarischen Inseln machen wir oft Urlaub, und mit zwei Plastiktüten zum Abdrehen „bewaffnet" mache ich mich morgens auf den Weg, unser Frühstück in Form von Kaktusfeigen zusammen zu sammeln. Von der Sonne gewärmt, erfreuen sie Seele und Geist. Immer, wenn ich wilde Früchte in der Natur sammele, bin ich dankbar und glücklich über die Fülle und all die Köstlichkeiten, mit denen uns Mutter Natur bzw. die Erde beschenkt.
Mit Genehmigung vom Autor aus: Barbara Simonsohn, „Heilkraft aus den Tropen – die süße Medizin exotischer Früchte", Integral, 350 S., 17,95 Euro
NOPAL FEIGENKAKTUS
Aktuelle wissenschaftliche Studien
Quelle: Datenbank der U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (siehe http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez)
1: Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2007 Oct 12 [Epub ahead of print]
Risks and benefits of commonly used herbal medicines in Mexico.
Rodriguez-Fragoso L, Reyes-Esparza J, Burchiel SW, Herrera-Ruiz D, Torres E.
Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Facultad de Farmacia, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
In Mexico, local empirical knowledge about medicinal properties of plants is the basis for their use as home remedies. It is generally accepted by many people in Mexico and elsewhere in the world that beneficial medicinal effects can be obtained by ingesting plant products. In this review, we focus on the potential pharmacologic bases for herbal plant efficacy, but we also raise concerns about the safety of these agents, which have not been fully assessed. Although numerous randomized clinical trials of herbal medicines have been published and systematic reviews and meta-analyses of these studies are available, generalizations about the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines are clearly not possible. Recent publications have also highlighted the unintended consequences of herbal product use, including morbidity and mortality. It has been found that many phytochemicals have pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic interactions with drugs. The present review is limited to some herbal medicines that are native or cultivated in Mexico and that have significant use. We discuss the cultural uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological, and toxicological properties of the following plant species: nopal (Opuntia ficus), peppermint (Mentha piperita), chaparral (Larrea divaricata), dandlion (Taraxacum officinale), mullein (Verbascum densiflorum), chamomile (Matricaria recutita), nettle or stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), linden flower (Tilia europea), and aloe (Aloe vera). We conclude that our knowledge of the therapeutic benefits and risks of some herbal medicines used in Mexico is still limited and efforts to elucidate them should be intensified.
PMID: 18037151 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
2: Adv Ther. 2007 Sep-Oct;24(5):1115-25.
The Effect of NeOpuntia(R) on Blood Lipid Parameters-Risk Factors for the Metabolic Syndrome (Syndrome X).
Linarès E, Thimonier C, Degre M.
Metabolic syndrome (syndrome X) causes millions of cardiovascular complications and premature deaths every year. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of NeOpuntia(R), patented, dehydrated, Opuntia ficus-indica leaves, on blood lipid parameters and metabolic syndrome. Opuntia ficus-indica leaves are traditionally consumed as a vegetable. Participants in this monocentric, randomized, placebocontrolled, double-blind, 6-wk study were 68 women, ages 20 to 55 y, with metabolic syndrome and a body mass index between 25 and 40. Fifty-nine subjects completed the study according to the study plan. All volunteers followed wellbalanced diets with controlled lipid input. NeOpuntia or placebo capsules were taken at a dosage of 1.6 g per meal. All 5 syndrome X criteria were measured on days 0, 14, and 42, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride levels. For the 42 females above 45 y of age, we show a significant increase in HDL-C levels with NeOpuntia and a tendency toward decreased triglyceride levels. At the same time, there was a decrease in HDL-C levels with placebo. Overall, for the entire study population, similar but less pronounced tendencies were demonstrated. Forty-two females taking NeOpuntia with no additional hypolipemic treatment, had a pronounced reduction in LDL cholesterol, especially after day 14. At the study end, 39% of the NeOpuntia group, but only 8% of the placebo group, were no longer diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Our results indicate an advantage of using NeOpuntia in dietary supplements and functional foods because of improvement of blood lipid parameters associated with cardiovascular risks.
PMID: 18029338 [PubMed - in process]
3: Food Chem Toxicol. 2007 Sep 14 [Epub ahead of print]
Opuntia ficus indica extract protects against chlorpyrifos-induced damage on mice liver.
Ncibi S, Ben Othman M, Akacha A, Krifi MN, Zourgui L.
Unité de recherche de biochimie macromoléculaire et génétique, Faculté des sciences de Gafsa, cité Zarroug 2112 Gafsa, Tunisie.
This original study investigates the role of Opuntia ficus indica (cactus) cladodes extract against liver damage induced in male SWISS mice by an organophosphorous insecticide, the chlorpyrifos (CPF). Liver damage was evaluated by the measure of its weight and the quantification of some biochemical parameters, such as alanine amino transferase (ALAT), aspartate amino transferase (ASAT), phosphatase alkaline (PAL), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cholesterol and albumin in serum by spectrophotometric techniques. The experimental approach lasted 48h and consisted of 6 treatments of six mice each one; (1) control, (2) 10mg/kg (b.w) CPF, (3) 10mg/kg (b.w) CPF with 100mg/kg (b.w) cactus, (4) 150mg/kg (b.w)CPF, (5) 150mg/kg (b.w) CPF with 1.5g/kg cactus, (6) 1.5g/kg cactus. Both chlorpyrifos and cactus were administrated orally via gavages. Our results showed that CPF affects significantly all parameters studied. However, when this pesticide was administrated associated to cactus, we noticed a recovery of all their levels. In the other hand, cactus alone did not affect the studied parameters. These results allow us to conclude firstly that CPF is hepatotoxic and secondly that Opuntia ficus indica stem extract protects the liver and decreases the toxicity induced by this organophosphorous pesticide.
PMID: 17980473 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
4: Guang Pu Xue Yu Guang Pu Fen Xi. 2007 Jul;27(7):1436-9.
[Determination of trace elements in new food sources by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry]
[Article in Chinese]
Liu LE, Ding L, Qi M, Han XL, Zhang HQ.
College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
Samples were digested by HNO3 + HClO4. Flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) was successfully used to determine copper, zinc and iron in new resource food. Under our experimental conditions, the recovery ratio was 94.66%-108.80%; the precision was 0.71%-4.78%. This method of measuring elements is convenient, rapid and accurate. The results showed that there are profitable elements, such as copper, zinc and iron in new resourse food in Henan province. By F test and SNK test, the content sequence of metal elements was found as follows: copper, Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat-Silktworm pupa > flowers of Pueraria lobata Ohwin = Wheat germ = Codonopsis lanceolata = roots of Pueraria lobata Ohwi > Opuntia dillenii Haw. Zinc, Opuntia dillenii Haw > Silkzowrm pupa = flowers of Pueraria lobata Ohwi = roots of Pueraria lobata Ohwi = Wheat germ = Codonopis lanceolata = Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. Iron, Silkworm pupa = C hrysanthemum morifolium Ramat = roots of Pueraria lobata Ohwi > flowers of Pueraria lobata Ohwi = Wheat germ = Codonopis lanceolata = Opuntia dillenii Haw.
Publication Types:
PMID: 17944432 [PubMed - in process]
5: PLoS ONE. 2007 Oct 17;2(10):e1042.
Preventing establishment: an inventory of introduced plants in puerto villamil, isabela island, galapagos.
Guézou A, Pozo P, Buddenhagen C.
Charles Darwin Research Station, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, Ecuador.
As part of an island-wide project to identify and eradicate potentially invasive plant species before they become established, a program of inventories is being carried out in the urban and agricultural zones of the four inhabited islands in Galapagos. This study reports the results of the inventory from Puerto Villamil, a coastal village representing the urban zone of Isabela Island. We visited all 1193 village properties to record the presence of the introduced plants. In addition, information was collected from half of the properties to determine evidence for potential invasiveness of the plant species. We recorded 261 vascular taxa, 13 of which were new records for Galapagos. Most of the species were intentionally grown (cultivated) (73.3%) and used principally as ornamentals. The most frequent taxa we encountered were Cocos nucifera (coconut tree) (22.1%) as a cultivated plant and Paspalum vaginatum (salt water couch) (13.2%) as a non cultivated plant. In addition 39 taxa were naturalized. On the basis of the invasiveness study, we recommend five species for eradication (Abutilon dianthum, Datura inoxia, Datura metel, Senna alata and Solanum capsicoides), one species for hybridization studies (Opuntia ficus-indica) and three species for control (Furcraea hexapetala, Leucaena leucocephala and Paspalum vaginatum).
PMID: 17940606 [PubMed - in process]
6: Arch Pharm Res. 2007 Jun;30(6):665-9.
Two new alpha-pyrones and other components from the cladodes of Opuntia dillenii.
Qiu YK, Zhao YY, Dou de Q, Xu BX, Liu K.
School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yaitai, China. and 'Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China.
The aqueous ethanolic extract from the fresh cladodes of Opuntia dillenii HAW. was found to show anti-inflammatory activity. Two new alpha-pyrones, named opuntioside II (1) and opuntioside III (2), were isolated from the extract together with six known compounds. The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence.
PMID: 17679540 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
7: Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2007 Sep;62(3):107-12. Epub 2007 Aug 3.
Physicochemical characterization of nopal pads (Opuntia ficus indica) and dry vacuum nopal powders as a function of the maturation.
Rodríguez-Garcia ME, de Lira C, Hernández-Becerra E, Cornejo-Villegas MA, Palacios-Fonseca AJ, Rojas-Molina I, Reynoso R, Quintero LC, Del-Real A, Zepeda TA, Muñoz-Torres C.
Centro de Física Aplicada y Tecnología Avanzada, Departamento de Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, AP 1-1010, CP 76000, Querétaro, México. marioga@fata.unam.mx
This paper presents the physicochemical and nutrimental characterization of fresh nopal (Opuntia ficus indica, Redonda variety) and nopal powder produced at different stages of development. Nopal powder was obtained by dry vacuum technique using 10(2) Torr and low temperature (40 degrees C). The results showed that the nutrimental and mineral composition of nopal changes as a function of the maturation as follow: The ash content increases from 18.41 for nopalitos (60 g of weight) to 23.24% (nopal pads 200 g); calcium content increases from 1.52 to 3.72%, while phosphorous exhibits an opposite trend: 0.43 to 0.27%, respectively. Calcium oxalate was determined by X-ray diffraction and SEM microscopy and quantified by using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Calcium oxalate decreases from 7.95 to 3.47 mg/g and the Ca/P ratio varies from 3.6 to 11. The soluble fibre decreases from 25.22 to 14.91%, while insoluble fibre increases from 29.87 to 41.65%. These results suggest that nopal could be an important source of minerals within the diets of people in Mexico and the rest of Latin America.
Publication Types:
PMID: 17674207 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
8: Plant Physiol. 2007 Sep;145(1):49-61. Epub 2007 Jul 27.
Changes in respiratory mitochondrial machinery and cytochrome and alternative pathway activities in response to energy demand underlie the acclimation of respiration to elevated CO2 in the invasive Opuntia ficus-indica.
Gomez-Casanovas N, Blanc-Betes E, Gonzalez-Meler MA, Azcon-Bieto J.
Unitat de Fisiologia Vegetal, Departament de Biologia Vegetal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain 08028. ngomezca8@bio.ub.edu
Studies on long-term effects of plants grown at elevated CO(2) are scarce and mechanisms of such responses are largely unknown. To gain mechanistic understanding on respiratory acclimation to elevated CO(2), the Crassulacean acid metabolism Mediterranean invasive Opuntia ficus-indica Miller was grown at various CO(2) concentrations. Respiration rates, maximum activity of cytochrome c oxidase, and active mitochondrial number consistently decreased in plants grown at elevated CO(2) during the 9 months of the study when compared to ambient plants. Plant growth at elevated CO(2) also reduced cytochrome pathway activity, but increased the activity of the alternative pathway. Despite all these effects seen in plants grown at high CO(2), the specific oxygen uptake rate per unit of active mitochondria was the same for plants grown at ambient and elevated CO(2). Although decreases in photorespiration activity have been pointed out as a factor contributing to the long-term acclimation of plant respiration to growth at elevated CO(2), the homeostatic maintenance of specific respiratory rate per unit of mitochondria in response to high CO(2) suggests that photorespiratory activity may play a small role on the long-term acclimation of respiration to elevated CO(2). However, despite growth enhancement and as a result of the inhibition in cytochrome pathway activity by elevated CO(2), total mitochondrial ATP production was decreased by plant growth at elevated CO(2) when compared to ambient-grown plants. Because plant growth at elevated CO(2) increased biomass but reduced respiratory machinery, activity, and ATP yields while maintaining O(2) consumption rates per unit of mitochondria, we suggest that acclimation to elevated CO(2) results from physiological adjustment of respiration to tissue ATP demand, which may not be entirely driven by nitrogen metabolism as previously suggested.
Publication Types:
PMID: 17660349 [PubMed - in process]
9: Chem Biodivers. 2007 Jul;4(7):1525-32.
The effect of ultraviolet-depleted light on the flavonol contents of the cactus species Opuntia wilcoxii and Opuntia violacea.
Berger JM, Itagaki Y, Nakanishi K.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA. bergerj@mail.montclair.edu
An early investigation at the Biosphere-2 Laboratory, an artificial ecosystem in the Arizona desert, had shown that the flavonoid content of cacti grown in glass-filtered solar light was lower than of cacti grown in normal solar light. This was attributed to the absence of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is required for flavonoid biosynthesis. In this study, two species of Opuntia cacti were grown in solar and UV-depleted light, and their flavonol contents of different tissues were determined by HPLC. O. wilcoxii, previously raised in the absence of UV light, was exposed to normal solar light. The flavonol content of young O. wilcoxii pads was 28-fold higher when grown in solar light as compared to UV-depleted light. The flavonol contents of mature outer tissues were only slightly higher. O. violacea, previously raised in solar light, was also maintained in the same UV-depleted artificial ecosystem. The flavonol content after hydrolysis of outer tissues was similar, whether grown in solar light or UV-depleted light. We attribute these responses to different biosynthetic and metabolic rates of young vs. mature plant tissues; slow-growing mature tissues neither produce nor metabolize compounds as quickly as immature tissues. These findings indicate that artificial ecosystems can influence the production of natural products in cultivated plants.
Publication Types:
PMID: 17638334 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
10: J Anim Ecol. 2007 Jul;76(4):722-9.
Demographic models reveal the shape of density dependence for a specialist insect herbivore on variable host plants.
Miller TE.
School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0118, USA. tmiller2@unl.edu
1. It is widely accepted that density-dependent processes play an important role in most natural populations. However, persistent challenges in our understanding of density-dependent population dynamics include evaluating the shape of the relationship between density and demographic rates (linear, concave, convex), and identifying extrinsic factors that can mediate this relationship. 2. I studied the population dynamics of the cactus bug Narnia pallidicornis on host plants (Opuntia imbricata) that varied naturally in relative reproductive effort (RRE, the proportion of meristems allocated to reproduction), an important plant quality trait. I manipulated per-plant cactus bug densities, quantified subsequent dynamics, and fit stage-structured models to the experimental data to ask if and how density influences demographic parameters. 3. In the field experiment, I found that populations with variable starting densities quickly converged upon similar growth trajectories. In the model-fitting analyses, the data strongly supported a model that defined the juvenile cactus bug retention parameter (joint probability of surviving and not dispersing) as a nonlinear decreasing function of density. The estimated shape of this relationship shifted from concave to convex with increasing host-plant RRE. 4. The results demonstrate that host-plant traits are critical sources of variation in the strength and shape of density dependence in insects, and highlight the utility of integrated experimental-theoretical approaches for identifying processes underlying patterns of change in natural populations.
Publication Types:
PMID: 17584378 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
11: J Dairy Sci. 2007 Jun;90(6):2717-25.
Occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in artisanal Palmero cheese smoked with two types of vegetable matter.
Guillén MD, Palencia G, Sopelana P, Ibargoitia ML.
Tecnología de Alimentos, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad del País Vasco, Paseo de la Universidad, 01006 Vitoria, Spain. mariadolores.guillen@ehu.es
Palmero cheese is a fresh smoked cheese from the Isle of Palma (Canary Islands), manufactured with goat's milk. To guarantee its safety, the occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in artisanal Palmero cheese smoked with 2 types of vegetable matter (almond shells and dry prickly pear) was studied. The determination of PAH includes extraction and clean-up steps, followed by separation, identification, and quantification of PAH by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in selected ion-monitoring mode. The most abundant PAH are those with 2 and 3 aromatic rings. Although the highest total PAH concentrations corresponded to the cheeses smoked with almond shells, the degree of PAH contamination of the cheeses studied was lower than that found in other cheeses smoked in the traditional way. The nature of the vegetable material used for smoking seemed to have an influence on the type of PAH formed, especially on alkylderivatives and some light PAH. However, despite the artisanal, and consequently variable, production process of these cheeses, many similarities have been found among their PAH profiles. In fact, relatively constant relationships are observed between the concentrations of certain pairs of PAH. Benzo(a)pyrene was only present in 2 samples, and in much lower concentrations than the maximum allowed legal limits. Therefore, according to the results obtained, it appears that it is possible to obtain a safe product without renouncing the artisanal character or the sensory properties of this type of cheese.
Publication Types:
PMID: 17517711 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
12: Bioresour Technol. 2007 May 8 [Epub ahead of print]
Experimental binding of lead to a low cost on biosorbent: Nopal (Opuntia streptacantha).
Miretzky P, Muñoz C, Carrillo-Chávez A.
Centro de Geociencias-UNAM, Campus Juriquilla, Juriquilla s/n, 76230 Queretaro, Mexico.
The use of nopal cladodes (Opuntia streptacantha) as raw material for Pb(2+) biosorption was investigated. Batch experiments were carried out to determine Pb(2+) sorption capacity and the efficiency of the sorption process under different pH, initial Pb(2+) and nopal biomass concentrations. The experimental data showed a good fit to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms models. The maximum adsorption capacity for Pb(2+) was 0.14mmolg(-1) with an efficiency higher than 94% (pH 5.0 and 2.5gL(-1) nopal biomass). The Pb(2+) kinetics were best described by the pseudo-second-order rate model. The rate constant, the initial sorption rate and the equilibrium sorption capacity were determined. The practical implication of this study is the development of an effective and economic technology in which the nopal biomass did not undergo any chemical or physical pretreatment, which added to nopal abundance in Mexico and its low cost makes it a good option for Pb(2+) removal from contaminated waters.
PMID: 17493807 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
13: Phytomedicine. 2007 Nov;14(11):739-46. Epub 2007 May 7.
Betanin a betacyanin pigment purified from fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica induces apoptosis in human chronic myeloid leukemia Cell line-K562.
Sreekanth D, Arunasree MK, Roy KR, Chandramohan Reddy T, Reddy GV, Reddanna P.
School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500 046, India.
Betalains are water-soluble nitrogenous vacuolar pigments present in flowers and fruits of many caryophyllales with potent antioxidant properties. In the present study the antiproliferative effects of betanin, a principle betacyanin pigment, isolated from the fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica, was evaluated on human chronic myeloid leukemia cell line (K562). The results show dose and time dependent decrease in the proliferation of K562 cells treated with betanin with an IC(50) of 40muM. Further studies involving scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed the apoptotic characteristics such as chromatin condensation, cell shrinkage and membrane blebbing. Agarose electrophoresis of genomic DNA of cells treated with betanin showed fragmentation pattern typical for apoptotic cells. Flow cytometric analysis of cells treated with 40muM betanin showed 28.4% of cells in sub G0/G1 phase. Betanin treatment to the cells also induced the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, poly (ADP) ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage, down regulation Bcl-2, and reduction in the membrane potentials. Confocal microscopic studies on the cells treated with betanin suggest the entry of betanin into the cells. These studies thus demonstrate that betanin induces apoptosis in K562 cells through the intrinsic pathway and is mediated by the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol, and PARP cleavage. The antiproliferative effects of betanin add further value to the nutritional characteristics of the fruits of O. ficus-indica.
PMID: 17482444 [PubMed - in process]
14: J Chromatogr Sci. 2007 Mar;45(3):120-5.
Monitoring by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry the impact of pH and temperature on the pigment pattern of cactus pear fruit extracts.
Fernández-López JA, Castellar R, Obón JM, Almela L.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII 52, E-30203 Cartagena (Murcia), Spain. josea.fernandez@upct.es
The influence of pH and moderate heating (50 degrees C) on the color and individual betacyanin content of pigment extracts from cactus pear fruits (Opuntia stricta) is studied in the course of this paper. The study is carried out by using a high-performance liquid chromatograph equipped with a photodiode array detector and coupled to a mass spectrometer. The results point to a pH-dependent degradation mechanism, which is reflected in the chromatographic patterns obtained at different exposure times (0-28 h). At pH 3, 15-descarboxy-betanin is the most resistant betacyanin derivative. At pH 5, seven peaks are detected after 8 h, the most prominent being betanin, cyclo-dopa-5-O-beta-glucoside, and betalamic. In the assay conducted at pH 7, rapid color loss affects all the pigments, except for betanin.
Publication Types:
PMID: 17462125 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]