• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2014

The taxonomic status of a new forma, Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. f. jeollaensis E. J. Kim & S. S. Whang, and the taxonomic relationships of three Korean cladodes were studied based on DNA sequences of three genes. The new forma O. humifusa f. jeollaensis (Wanggasi-Chunnyuncho) is simlilar to O. humifusa (Chunnyuncho), but differ in having both flower with the reddish inner center, and strong and many 3 cm long spines. Molecular studies showed that the new forma grouped into Macrocentra series instead of Humifusa series which included Korean O. humifusa. We designated the new taxa firstly studied here as a new forma, because the taxa have been mainly cultivated in farmlands in Jeolla-do area rather than distributed in nature. The taxonomic relationships of three Korean cladodes are discussed in detail.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.160-166
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• 2000

The extracts of Opuntia ficus indica var. saboten were obtained by using seven solvents of increasing polarity and their antioxidative and antimicrobial activities were investigated along with thermal stability. The highest antioxidative activity expressed as electron donating ability and antimicrobial activity were observed in the 95% ethanol extract. Cell growth inhibition was not apparent on Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium, but was great on Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus and staphylococcus aureus at the level of 4.5 mg/ml medium. The ethanol extract of Opuntia ficus indica var. saboten showed the thermal stability in the range of 40∼120$\^{C}$. It was re-extracted sequentially with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water, among which ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest inhibitory effect against Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus and Escherichia coli.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2006

Opuntia humifusa is a member of the Cactaceae family. In the present study, the antioxidant, nitric oxide(NO) inhibitory activities and potential irritation response of the fermented Opuntia humifusa cladodes(FOH) were investigated for cosmetic use. Antioxidant activities were tested using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and xanthine oxidase assay, we found that FOH could scavenge DPPH free radicals and inhibit xanthine oxidase activity in a dose dependent manner, with $IC_{50}$ of 2599.46${\mu}g/ml$ and 721.38${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. To investigate the possible anti-inflammatory effects of FOH, RAW 264.7 macrophages were pretreated with FOH($0{\sim}400{\mu}g/ml$) for 30 min and then treated with LPS for 24 h. We found that cell number did not vary significantly with the treatment of FOH, and FOH did not show any inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO production. After application of FOH to rabbits for skin and eye irritation test, the experimental sites did not show any response compared to the control. FOH were considered to be a non-irritant to the skin and eye. Based on the above information, we suggest that FOH can be considered to be a non-irritant base cosmetic material for safely use.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.205-211
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• 2007

The fruits and stems of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten have been reported to exhibit a variety of pharmacological actions, including antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ulcer effects. In the present study, we evaluated effects of the butanol fraction (SK OFB901) prepared from the 50% ethanol extract of the stems on various types of neuronal injuries induced by oxidative stress, excitotoxins, and amyloid ${\beta}\;(A_{\beta})$ in primary cultured rat cortical cells. Its antioxidant and radical scavenging activities were also evaluated by cell-free bioassays. We found that SK OFB901 strongly inhibited the oxidative neuronal damage induced by $H_2O_2$ or xanthine/xanthine oxidase. In addition, it exhibited marked inhibition of the excitotoxic neuronal damage induced by glutamate, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid, or kainate. Furthermore, the $A_{\beta(25-35)}$-induced neurotoxicity was also significantly attenuated by SK OFB901. It was found to inhibit lipid peroxidation initiated by $Fe^{2+}$ and L-ascorbic acid in rat brain homogenates and scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radicals. These results indicate that the butanol fraction prepared from the stems of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten exerts potent antioxidant and neuroprotective effects through multiple mechanisms, implying its potential applications for the prevention or management of neurodegenerative disorders associated with oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and $A{\beta}$.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.308-315
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• 2012

Opuntia humifusa known as the Eastern prickly pear have been used as a treatment of burns, diarrhea, asthma, rheumatism, gonorrhea, and diabetes in alternative medicine. O. humifusa is widely cultivated in the middle and southern provinces of Korea and distributed in North America. The aim of this study is to investigate anti-diabetic effect of O. humifusa stem (OHS) water or 80% MeOH extract using 3T3-L1 adipocytes and db/db mice animal models. OHS 80% MeOH extract at a dose of $250{\mu}g/ml$ significantly increased the glucose uptake and lipid accumulation compared with the control in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Blood glucose, plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly reduced by oral treatment of OHS 80% MeOH extract (200 mg/kg BW) for 6 weeks in db/db mice. Also, the oral treatment of OHS 80% MeOH extract slightly changed the plasma insulin and insulin resistance levels in db/db mice, but were no significance in comparison to control. Glucose transporter(GLUT)4 expressions of adipose tissue and muscle were significantly increased more than that in the control. Therefore, these results suggest that OHS 80% MeOH extract inhibits the blood glucose level through regulation of lipid profile, insulin resistance, and GLUT4 expression in db/db mice and its diabetic effect is effective more than water extract.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.2 s.69
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• pp.279-286
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• 2005

The Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten Makino (Cactus) is a tropical or subtropical plant, which is cultivated or grows naturally in Jeju island. It has been widely used as folk medicine for burned wound, edema and indigestion. In addition, its extract has been claimed to have several biological activities including anti-inflammation in oriental medicine. In this study, we examined the antimicrobial activities of the methanol extract of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten Makino. The extract showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria, including antibiotics resistant bacteria (MRSA, R-P. aeruginosa, VRE) and Propionibacterium acnes, yeast, and fungi. The extract retained the activity after heat treatment for 15 min at $100^{\circ}C$ and $121^{\circ}C$ and after extended storage, up to 10 weeks storage period at $4^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$, also stably retained its activity. It showed a better inhibitoring effect to the growth of E. coli than sodium benzoate did it at the same concentration. Addition of various salts or metal ions did not affect on its antimicrobial activity. Therefore, the antimicrobial characteristics of the extract can be applicable as a natural preservative and an antimicrobial agent for bacterial disease.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.3 no.1_2
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• pp.31-39
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• 1980

Light energy utilization was investigated in the fallen stems of Opuntia bigelovii. Threshold time for the decreasing steady state of acid accumulation in the palisade tissue of Opuntia stems was 4 hours under 1,000 $\mu Em^{-2}sec^{-1}$ of PAR at $75^{\circ}C$, while stomatal closing throughout the stem stage was illustrated by 256.0-310.4 sec $\textrm{cm}^{-1}$ of stem diffusive resistance and 0.20g $day^{-1}$ of the water loss rate as cuticular resistance. The acid loss rate in the stems per 4 hours was related to tissue water contents and a few acid loss rate could be recognized at the water content rage of 56.4%~46.8%. Endogenous oscillation of tissue acidity due to the diurnal rhythmic phenomena depended on the tissue water content was found in the Opuntia stems with stomatal closing during the normal day/night cycle. The survival rate of 1 segment to survive 2 years old cactus was 22.7% in desert environments. Such a compensation photosynthesis which utilizes light energy and maintains the reassimilation of endogenous gases was interpreted as conceptual model.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.358-365
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• 2019

This study investigated the effects of dietary cactus Opuntia ficus-indica stem and fruit extract on the growth, flesh quality, lysozyme activity, and histological changes of growing Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegeli. Three replicates of fish (152 g/fish) were fed one of the following diets: containing 0 additions (control); 0.1, 0.5, or 1.0% cactus stem powder; or 1.0% fruit extract for 11 weeks. Growth performance did not differ significantly among treatments, including survival, final weight, feed efficiency, and daily feed intake. The experimental diets did not affect the proximate and fatty acid compositions, plasma biochemistry, or dorsal muscle texture of the fish. However, the plasma lysozyme activity of the fish fed the diet containing 0.1% cactus stem was significantly higher than that of the fish fed the control diet. These fish had variously sized lipid vacuoles in the liver tissue compared with the control. Distinct mucosal folds and mucus-secreting goblet cells developed in the fish fed the diet containing 1% cactus stem compared with the other dietary groups. These results suggest that feeding growing Korean rockfish cactus stem might increase the plasma lysozyme activity and induce histological changes in the gastrointestinal tract that might be related to digestion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.146-153
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• 2009

This study was conducted to examine the effects of fruits and stems of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten Makino on water intake, feed intake, body weight, blood glucose level and glucose tolerance in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Forty Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into non-diabetic control (NC), diabetic control (DC), 8% Opuntia fruit (DOF), 5% Opuntia stem (DO-5) and 10% Opuntia stem (DO-10) groups. Fruits and stems of Opuntia ficus-indica were freeze-dried and ground before use in the experiment. Animals were fed experimental diet for 3 weeks. DOF, DO-5 and DO-10 groups showed lower water and feed intake as well as less body weight loss than DC group. The fasting blood glucose levels were 100 mg/dL for NC and 379 mg/dL for DC. Fasting glucose level of DOF was a significantly low level of 28% (p<0.05), whereas DO-5 and DO-10 had a decrease of 5% and 9% compared to DC. As for the glucose tolerance test, the highest blood glucose levels for NC and DC-10 group were observed at 30 minutes after glucose injection while those of DOF and DO-5 groups were after 60 minutes. DOF and DO-5 plasma insulin level improved. Plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were also lower in DOF, DO-5 and DO-10 groups, although HDL-cholesterol level was only slightly affected by experimental diets compared to DC. These results suggest that the feeding of Opuntia ficus-indica fruits and stems improved blood glucose and lipid metabolism in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.967-974
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• 2009

The effects of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten powder on the growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were investigated in order to explore the possibility of manufacturing fermented milk containing the powder. Differences in pH, acidity, LAB counts, viscosity, and sensory evaluation were measured. Also the effects of dietary supplementation on the growth of piglets were evaluated by feeding fermented milks containing 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5%, and 1.0% Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten powder. Levels of pH, titratable acidity, viable LAB counts and viscosity were significantly different by the addition of the powder. When fermented milks containg 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5% and 1.0% Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten powder were kept at $4^{\circ}C$ for 30 days, viable LAB counts remained high after 30 days of storage. The effects of dietary supplementation of 0.2% Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten fermented milk were investigated by examining piglet growth rate and fecal ammonia gas release. The piglets were fed 100g/herd of the fermented milk for 14 days. Average daily body weight gain was significantly (p<0.05) improved (110%) with dietary supplementation of the fermented milk, compared to a control group. More over, fecal ammonia gas emissions were reduced by dietary supplementation of the Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten fermented milk. Sensory evaluation results showed that the samples containing 0.1% and 0.2% Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten powder had the most parameters similar to those of the control.