Question:
Today's San Antonio "News-Express," in an article concerning the growing,
perhaps faddish, interest in herbs - decoctions, teas, and the like - as
prescription medicine alternatives, had a picture of a plain 'ole Texas
broad-leaf cactus plant ("prickly pear").
The caption stated the cactus was being researched as a "cure" for diabetes.
Anyone know whose work and where this references?
Answer:
there's almost certainly a bunch of research ongoing; these study abstracts
may indicate a starting point:
A purified extract from prickly pear cactus (Opuntia fuliginosa)
controls experimentally induced diabetes in rats.
Trejo-González A; Gabriel-Ortiz G; Puebla-Pérez AM;
Huízar-Contreras MD; Munguía-Mazariegos MR; Mejía-Arreguín S; Calva E
Department of Biotechnology, CIIDIR-IPN, Jiquilpan, Michoacan, Mexico.
J Ethnopharmacol, 1996 Dec, 55:1, 27-33
abstract:
The hypoglycemic activity of a purified extract from prickly pear
cactus (Opuntia fuliginosa) was evaluated on STZ-induced diabetic rats.
Blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels were reduced to normal
values by a combined treatment of insulin and Opuntia extract. When
insulin was withdrawn from the combined treatment, the prickly pear
extract alone maintained normoglycemic state in the diabetic rats. The
blood glucose response to administered glucose also showed that the
rats receiving the combination treatment of insulin and Opuntia extract
for 7 weeks followed by Opuntia extract alone were capable of rapidly
returning blood glucose to the levels of the nondiabetic rats. Although
the mechanism of action is unknown, the magnitude of the glucose
control by the small amount of Opuntia extract required (1 mg/kg body
weight per day) preclude a predominant role for dietary fiber. These
very encouraging results for diabetes control by the purified extract
of this Opuntia cactus make the need for clinical studies in humans
evident.
Evaluation of nopal capsules in diabetes mellitus
Frati_Munari AC; Vera_Lastra O; Ariza_Andraca CR
Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro
Médico Nacional La Raza, IMSS.
Gac Med Mex, 1992 Jul-Aug, 128 (4): 431-6.
abstract:
To find out if commercial capsules with dried nopal (prickle-pear
cactus, Opuntia ficus indica may have a role in the management of
diabetes mellitus, three experiments were performed: 30 capsules where
given in fasting condition to 10 diabetic subjects and serum glucose
was measured through out 3 hours; a control test was performed with 30
placebo capsules. OGTT with previous intake of 30 nopal or placebo
capsules was performed in ten healthy individuals. In a crossover and
single blinded study 14 diabetic patients withdrew the oral
hypoglycemic treatment and received 10 nopal or placebo capsules t.i.d.
during one week; serum glucose, cholesterol and tryglycerides levels
were measured before and after each one-week period. Five healthy
subjects were also studied in the same fashion. Opuntia capsules did
not show acute hypoglycemic effect and did not influence OGTT. In
diabetic patients serum glucose, cholesterol and tryglycerides levels
did not change with Opuntia, but they increased with placebo (P < 0.01
glucose and cholesterol, P = NS triglycerides). In healthy individuals
glycemia did not change with nopal, while cholesterol and triglycerides
decreased (P < 0.01 vs. placebo). The intake of 30 Opuntia capsules
daily in patients with diabetes mellitus had a discrete beneficial
effect on glucose and cholesterol. However this dose is unpractical and
at present it is not recommended in the management of diabetes
mellitus.
