AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute and chronic effects of OpunDia (Opuntia ficus-indica) in obese pre-diabetic men and women. MATERIALS AND METHODS This double-blind placebo controlled study included participants (age range of 20-50 years) randomly assigned to one of the two groups and given a 16-week supply of either the 200 mg OpunDia (n=15), or placebo (n=14)....

The nopal cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) releases a substance through its mucilage, which comes from the degradation of pectic substances and chlorophyll. Combined in a polyvinyl alcohol matrix, this substance can be used as a recording medium. The resulting extract material has excellent photosensitizer properties, is easy to handle, has a low cost, and low toxicity. This material has the prope...

Opuntia ficus indica is a source of vitamins and minerals, recently, it has been used as ingredient to make new functional pasta. Italy produces the highest amount pasta in world also second-highest producer opuntia globally. This study sought identify consumer willingness pay for featuring understand what factors influence their choice. first food research analyze consumers’ indica. Data were ...

BACKGROUND The cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica (prickly pear cactus) have a low protein content; for use as a balanced feed, supplementation with other protein sources is therefore desirable. We investigated protein enrichment by cultivation of the yeasts Candida utilis and Kluyveromyces marxianus in an enzymatic hydrolysate of the cladode biomass. RESULTS Dilute acid pretreatment and enzyma...

To evaluate the potential antimicrobial activity, Aloe vera and Opuntia ficus-indica plants were collected from Jeddah, Al Baha, Taif areas of Kingdom Saudi Arabia (SA), their ethanolic extracts screened by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). The di(2-propylpentyl) ester hexadecenoic acid ethyl phthalic most abundant compounds in A. extract, 1-(benzyloxy)-3,5-dinitrobenzene phenol,...

Measurements of internal gas phase CO(2) concentration, stomatal resistance, and acid content were made in Crassulacean acid metabolism plants growing under natural conditions. High CO(2) concentrations, sometimes in excess of 2%, were observed during the day in a range of taxonomically widely separated plants (Opuntia ficus-indica L., Opuntia basilaris Engelm. and Bigel., Agave desertii Engelm...