Search results for " Ficus indica"

FROM FLESH TO JUICE, ONE FRUIT’S EXTRAORDINARY QUALITIES

2012

Correlation of sequential floral development and male gametophyte development and preliminary results on anther culture in Opuntia ficus-indica.

2005

Volatile profiles of Sicilian prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica) by SPME-GC/MS analysis

2005

The aroma compounds present in the headspace of homogenized slurries of fresh prickly pears (Opuntia ficus-indica) from Sicilian cultivars were determined. Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) followed by Gas-chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was used to characterize the volatile compounds. The volatile flavour profiles of the three cultivars investigated (red, white and yellow) showed significant differences. The aromatic profile of peeled prickly pears stored for one day was different from the one of the fresh samples, mainly due to the occurrence of some oxidative and hydrolytic reactions

Supplementation with cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit decreases oxidative stress in healthy humans: a comparative study with vitamin C.

2004

Background: Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit contains vitamin C and characteristic betalain pigments, the radical-scavenging properties and antioxidant activities of which have been shown in vitro. Objective: We investigated the effects of short-term supplementation with cactus pear fruit compared with vitamin C alone on total-body oxidative status in healthy humans. Design: In a randomized, crossover, double-treatment study, 18 healthy volunteers received either 250 g fresh fruit pulp or 75 mg vitamin C twice daily for 2 wk, with a 6-wk washout period between the treatments. Before (baseline) and after each treatment, 8-epiprostaglandin F2α (8-epi-PGF2α) and malondialdehyde in plas…

Betalains: colours for human health.

2022

In the last years, the use of natural phytochemical compounds as protective agents in the prevention and treatment of obesity and the related-metabolic syndrome has gained much attention worldwide. Different studies have shown health benefits for many vegetables such Opuntia ficus-indica and Beta vulgaris and their pigments collectively referred as betalains. Betalains exert antioxidative, anti-inflammation, lipid lowering, antidiabetic and anti-obesity effects. This review summarizes findings in the literature and highlights the therapeutic potential of betalains and their natural source as valid alternative for supplementation in obesity-related disorders treatment. Further research is ne…