Cactus spines can easily puncture the skin with only minor pressure. Removal of the offending cactus spine is the treatment of choice; however, it is very difficult, even with tweezers. A 17-year-old Korean girl presented for evaluation of multiple purple-colored macules and papules on the left cheek and left thumb. Two months earlier, she had pricked her finger and face on cactus spines while volunteering in Haiti. An ultrasound identified wedge-shaped echogenic materials suspected as cactus spines. We recommended surgical removal of the spines, but she vehemently refused. We then advised her to take amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and undergo regular follow-up. During the follow-up period, the spines dislodged spontaneously for easy removal and the patient removed them with tweezers. The lesions actually improved over the next several months. Here, we report this rare and interesting case for educational purposes because such a case has never been previously reported in Korea.
Adolescent ; Cactaceae ; Cheek ; Female ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Haiti ; Humans ; Korea ; Punctures ; Skin ; Spine ; Thumb ; Ultrasonography ; Wounds and Injuries

The present study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds from chloroform extract of the leaves of Hylocereus undatus in the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in vitro. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of chloroform extract from Hylocereus undatus afforded two novel 12-ursen-type triterpenes, 3β, 16α, 23-trihydroxy-urs-12- en-28-oic acid (1) and 3β, 6β, 19α, 22α-tetrahydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (2), as well as four known triterpenes 2α, 3β, 23-tetrahydroxy-urs-11-en-28-oic acid (3), 3β-acetoxy-28-hydroxyolean-12-ene (4), 3β, 16α-dihidroxyolean-12-ene (5) and 3β-acetoxy-olean-12-ene (6). Our results revealed that triterpenes 1-3 were able to inhibit the formation of AGEs in all tested assays. The data indicated that the triterpenes had inhibitory activity at the múltiple stages of glycation and that there might be a high potential for decreasing protein oxidation and protein glycation that can enhance glycative stress in diabetic complications.
Cactaceae ; chemistry ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; chemistry ; Glycosylation ; drug effects ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

On the phytochemical investigation of a 70% ethanol extract of the fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica, (Cacataceae), we could result in the isolation of thirteen phenolic compounds including seven flavonoids (1 - 9) and four simple phenolic glycosides (10 - 13) by column chromatographic methods. Among the isolated compounds, picein (11), androsin (12), and 1-O-feruloyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (13) were isolated for the first time from O. ficus-indica; additionally, this is the first report benzyl-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (10) from the genus Opuntia. The structures of the compounds were determined by spectral data analysis which included 1D, 2D NMR spectrum and ESIMS.
Ethanol ; Flavonoids ; Fruit* ; Glycosides ; Opuntia* ; Phenol* ; Statistics as Topic

The research aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Opuntia dillenii Haw polysaccharide (OPS) on atherosclerosis of rats. First atherosclerotic rat models were established by high-fat and high-calcium diet. Thirty days later, the rats were treated with low dosage of OPS (0.2 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) or high dosage of OPS (0.4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) by intraperitoneal injection for 60 days continuously. At the end of treatment, thoracic aorta rings were prepared and vasorelaxation of rat thoracic aorta in different experiment groups were determined by using 620M multi wire myograph system in vitro. Blood and livers of rats were collected. Then plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) of rats were separately determined using whole automatic biochemical analyzer; protein level of hepatic apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and that of hepatic diglyceride acyltransferase (Dgat1) were measured by Western Blot technique. Results showed that the ability of rat thoracic aorta to relax decreased markedly in the model group compared with that in the normal group, and significant differences existed in vasorelaxation ratios induced by different concentrations of carbamylcholine chloride (Carb) between these two groups (P < 0.01). After OPS treatment, the ability of rat thoracic aorta to relax improved markedly, the vasorelaxation ratios induced by Carb at 5 and 10 μmol x L(-1) were respectively 0.34 ± 0.08 and 0.62 ± 0.15 in the group treated with low dosage of OPS, while the ratios induced by Carb at 1 and 5 μmol x L(-1) were respectively 0.54 ± 0.08 and 0.98 ± 0.02 in the group treated with high dosage of OPS, which were all significantly different with those in the model group (P < 0.01). Plasma contents of TC, TG and LDL reduced significantly by the treatments both with low and high dosages of OPS compared with those in the model group (P < 0.01). Protein level of hepatic ApoB and that of hepatic Dgat1 decreased significantly after the treatment with high dosage of OPS compared with those in the model group (P < 0.01). These results indicate that OPS can markedly improve the vasorelaxation of thoracic aorta of atherosclerotic rats and has significant anti-atherosclerotic effect; inhibiting the expression of ApoB and Dgat1 and thus decreasing the amounts of TC, LDL and TG serving as one of the molecular mechanisms of its antiatherosclerosis effect.
Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Opuntia ; chemistry ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Triglycerides ; blood

We investigated whether the combination of phytochemicals and acetic acid in the form of fruit vinegar provides an additive effect on changes of mRNA levels related to fatty acid oxidation in human hepatocyte (HepG2). Among the seven fruit vinegars (Rubuscoreanus, Opuntia, blueberry, cherry, red ginseng, mulberry, and pomegranate) studied, treatment of HepG2 with pomegranate vinegar (PV) at concentrations containing 1 mM acetic acid showed the highest in vitro potentiating effect on the mRNA expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, carnitinepalmitoyl transferase-1, and acyl-CoA oxidase compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Reversed-phase liquid chromatography in combination with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis revealed four potential compounds (punicalagin B, ellagic acid, and two unidentified compounds) responsible for altered gene expression in HepG2 cells treated with PV as compared with the others. Further investigations are warranted to determine if drinking PV beverages may help to maintain a healthy body weight in overweight subjects.
Acetic Acid ; Acyl-CoA Oxidase ; Beverages ; Blueberry Plant ; Body Weight ; Chromatography, Reverse-Phase ; Drinking ; Ellagic Acid ; Fruit ; Gene Expression ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; Morus ; Opuntia ; Overweight ; Panax ; PPAR alpha ; Prunus ; Punicaceae ; RNA, Messenger

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.
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

Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten. is widely cultivated in Jeju Island (South Korea) for use in manufacture of health foods. This study described antidepressant effect of two flavonoids (kaempferol and quercitrin) isolated from the Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten. The expression of the hypothalamic POMC mRNA or plasma beta-endorphin levels were increased by extract of Opintia ficus-indica var. saboten or its flavoniods administered orally. In addition, antidepressant activity was studied using tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST) and rota-rod test in chronically restraint immobilization stress group in mice. After restraint stress (2 hrs/day for 14 days), animals were kept in cage for 14 days without any further stress, bet with drugs. Mice were fed with a diet supplemented for 14 days and during the behavioral test period with kaempferol or quercitrin (30 mg/kg/day). POMC mRNA or plasma beta-endorphin level was increased by extract of Opintia ficus-indica var. saboten and its flavoniods. In addition, immobility time in TST and FST was significantly reduced by kaempferol or quercitrin. In rota-rod test, the time of permanence was maintained to the semblance of control group in turning at 15 rpm. Our results suggest that two flavonoids (kaempferol and quercitrin) isolated from the Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten. show a potent antidepressant effect.
Animals ; beta-Endorphin ; Diet ; Flavonoids ; Hindlimb Suspension ; Immobilization ; Kaempferols ; Mice ; Opuntia ; Plasma ; Pro-Opiomelanocortin ; Quercetin ; RNA, Messenger ; Swimming ; Food, Organic

OBJECTIVETo observe the regulative effect of opuntia powder on blood lipids in wistar rats and to explore its mechanism.

METHODForty normal rats were divided into four groups:control group (fed with basal feed), opuntia high, middle and low dosage groups (fed with basal feed and opuntia powder of high, middle and low dosage. The influence of opuntia powder on serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), arteriosclerosis index (AI), serum malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) were observed. (2) All of the hyperlipemia wistar rats for experiments were divided into four groups: model control group and other three groups (high, middle, low dosage groups respectively). Three weeks later, samples of blood were taken for survey of levels of TC, TG HDL-C, LDL-C, AI, MDA, SOD.

RESULTAfter opuntia powder treatment,the level of TC in nomal wistar rats was decreased. However, there was no significant difference comparing with control group (P > 0.05). The serum MAD level in the low, middle and high dosage groups were all obviously decreased, which were significantly lower than that in the control group. The SOD activities were all higher than that in the control group. The level of TC, LDL-C, AI (P < 0.01), TG (P < 0.05) were lower significantly in hyperlipemia wistar rats after treated by opuntia powder of high, middle and low dosage. The down-regulation of blood lipids was related with the dosage of opuntia powder.

CONCLUSIONThe opuntia powder may regulate the level of blood lipids in normal and hyperlipemia wistar rats. The effect is more obviously in hyperlipemia rats than that in normal rats.

Animals ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Mice ; Opuntia ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Powders ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of two kinds of cactus polysaccharide on erythrocyte immune function in S180 mice.

METHODClassical pharmaceutical method and test kit.

RESULTThe cactus polysaccharide increased the content of RBC-CaR, RFER, decreased the content of RFIR, raised the content of sialic acid. And the effect of median dose group of medical cactus polysaccharide and high dose group of edible cactus polysaccharide is very remarkable (P < 0.01) compared with model group.

CONCLUSIONThe cactus polysaccharide improved the erythrocyte function of tumor-mice, which may be one of anti-tumor mechanisms.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cactaceae ; chemistry ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Erythrocytes ; immunology ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid ; blood ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Opuntia ; chemistry ; Plants, Edible ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Receptors, Complement 3b ; metabolism ; Rosette Formation ; Sarcoma 180 ; metabolism ; pathology

No abstract available.
Cactaceae* ; Dermatitis* ; Humans ; Leprosy*