Prickly pear cactus extract (Opuntia spp.)

What is prickly pear cactus extract?

Prickly pear cactus extract is a natural extract made from the fruit, stems, and pads of the Opuntia cactus species.

How does it work?

Prickly pear cactus extract has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic properties. It has been used for medicinal purposes to treat various conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and hangovers.

What are the active ingredients that are important for its medicinal properties?

The active ingredients in Prickly pear cactus extract include betalains, polyphenols, and flavonoids, which have been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

What forms does it come in?

Prickly pear cactus extract is available in various forms, including capsules, tablets, and powders.

When was it first used for medicinal purposes?

Prickly pear cactus extract has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries by the indigenous people of the Americas.

Summary:

Prickly pear cactus extract is a natural extract with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic properties. It has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes and has been shown to be effective in treating and preventing various conditions and symptoms, including high cholesterol, diabetes, hangovers, and inflammation. While generally safe, it is important to speak with a healthcare provider before taking Prickly pear cactus extract, especially if you are taking medications or have a medical condition.

What does Prickly pear cactus extract (Opuntia spp.) help with?

Prickly pear is a cactus. People eat its flat pads, called nopal, and its red fruit. It has a long food and folk-remedy history in Mexico and around the Mediterranean.

The library grades the whole remedy C. That means small or mixed human studies, not large repeat trials. Hangover symptoms have the best human data; most other uses rest on early or indirect work.

• Feeling rough the morning after drinking
  Good evidence — human trial evidence on file; trial size and dose not recorded here. In human studies on file, people took a fruit extract before they drank alcohol. They then reported milder hangover symptoms, mainly less nausea, dry mouth and loss of appetite. The study sizes and doses are not recorded in this library.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T2
• High blood sugar or prediabetes
  Early evidence — several human studies, sizes and doses not on file. Several human studies found lower fasting blood sugar and gentler spikes after meals. The changes showed up most in people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. Soluble fiber is well established to slow how fast sugar enters the blood, though that is general nutrition science.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• High cholesterol
  Early evidence — human studies showing modest changes, sizes not on file. Human studies found small drops in LDL cholesterol and in triglycerides. The effect showed up in people who were also eating a healthy diet. Pectin fiber is well known to bind cholesterol in the gut, but that is general nutrition science.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• Managing your weight
  Early evidence — a few small human studies of nopal fiber, sizes not on file. Some human studies looked at nopal fiber pills and how much people ate. The effects on calorie intake and weight were modest. Fiber is well known to help people feel full for longer, but that is general nutrition science, not a trial of this remedy.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• Protecting the liver from alcohol or other toxins
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — animal studies plus limited early human data. Animal studies found less damage to liver cells from alcohol and other toxins. The human data on file is early and thin. Researchers have raised this as one reason hangover symptoms eased in studies.
  Evidence grade D · Traditional tier T2
• High blood pressure
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — preliminary human studies only, flagged as needing more research. Early studies point to a mild drop in blood pressure. Magnesium content and less stress on vessel walls have been raised as possible reasons. The file itself says more human work is needed before any firm claim.
  Evidence grade D · Traditional tier T2
• Metabolic syndrome
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — no trial of the whole cluster; inferred from separate blood sugar and cholesterol studies. Metabolic syndrome is a group of risks. It includes high blood sugar, belly fat, high blood pressure and poor cholesterol. No trial on file tested prickly pear against the whole cluster, so this idea rests on separate findings.
  Evidence grade D · Traditional tier T2
• Long-term, low-grade inflammation
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — laboratory work on betalain pigments only. In lab tests, the red betalain pigments acted as strong antioxidants. They mopped up free radicals and calmed inflammation pathways in that setting. No human trial on file has measured this in people.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T2
• Constipation and sluggish digestion
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — tradition and user reports only, no human trial on file. Traditional use for gut complaints is well documented. Modern users often report better regularity, but reports are not a trial. Fiber is well established to add bulk to stool and feed gut bacteria; that is general nutrition science.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T2

What Prickly pear cactus extract (Opuntia spp.) has not been shown to do

• It has not been shown to cure or reverse type 2 diabetes; the studies tracked blood sugar numbers only.
• It has not been shown to stop a hangover; studies found milder symptoms, not none.
• It has not been shown to cause large weight loss, since the study effects were modest.
• No human trial on file shows it protects the liver; that evidence is mostly from animals.
• It has not been shown in a trial to treat metabolic syndrome as a whole.
• It has not been shown to ease constipation in a human trial; that use rests on tradition.

How to read this:

Grades describe the evidence, not the remedy. A means steady trials in people. B means at least one good trial. C means small or mixed human studies. D means weak or clashing human data. Insufficient means lab work, animal work or tradition only. This page is a summary of studies, not medical advice, and not a promise of results. Talk with your doctor before you add it, above all if you take medicine for blood sugar or blood pressure.

What can it help prevent?

Prickly pear cactus extract has been shown to help prevent:

• Hangovers
• Liver damage
• Inflammation
• Oxidative stress
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Cardiovascular disease
• Cancer
• Cognitive decline

Which foods are rich in it?

Prickly pear cactus fruit, stems, and pads are rich sources of Prickly pear cactus extract. Some other foods that may contain small amounts of Prickly pear cactus extract include:

• Red beets
• Rhubarb
• Spinach
• Berries
• Grapes
• Red cabbage
• Sweet potatoes
• Carrots
• Oranges
• Lemons

What are possible side effects?

Prickly pear cactus extract is generally well-tolerated. However, some people may experience the following side effects:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Allergic reactions

Prickly pear cactus extract is generally safe for most people, but it may interact with certain medications, such as diabetes medications and blood pressure medications. It is important to speak with a healthcare provider before taking Prickly pear cactus extract, especially if you are taking medications or have a medical condition.

What’s the recommended daily dose?

The recommended daily dose of Prickly pear cactus extract is 500-1000mg.

How many days does it take to work?

The time it takes for Prickly pear cactus extract to work varies depending on the condition being treated. However, some studies have shown improvements within a few weeks of use.

What time of day is best to take it?

There is no specific time of day recommended for taking Prickly pear cactus extract.

Is it best to take it with or without food?

Prickly pear cactus extract can be taken with or without food.