Cactus: Chemical, nutraceutical composition and potential bio-pharmacological properties

Gitishree Das, Kyung Jik Lim, Ourlad Alzeus G. Tantengco, Harold M. Carag, Sandra Gonçalves, Anabela Romano, Swagat Kumar Das, Ericsson Coy-Barrera, Han Seung Shin, Erick Paul Gutiérrez-Grijalva, J. Basilio Heredia, Jayanta Kumar Patra

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cactus species are plants that grow in the arid and semiarid regions of the world. They have long fascinated the attention of the scientific community due to their unusual biology. Cactus species are used for a variety of purposes, such as food, fodder, ornamental, and as medicinal plants. In the last regard, they have been used in traditional medicine for eras by the ancient people to cure several diseases. Recent scientific investigations suggest that cactus materials may be used as a source of naturally-occurring products, such as mucilage, fiber, pigments, and antioxidants. For this reason, numerous species under this family are becoming endangered and extinct. This review provides an overview of the habitat, classification, phytochemistry, chemical constituents, extraction and isolation of bioactive compounds, nutritional and pharmacological potential with pre-clinical and clinical studies of different Cactus species. Furthermore, conservation strategies for the ornamental and endangered species have also been discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1248-1283
Number of pages36
JournalPhytotherapy Research
Volume35
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2021

Keywords

  • bioactive compounds
  • cactus
  • nutraceutical
  • pharmaceutical properties
  • phytotherapy

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