"The King of the Desert" is an edible plant ingredient from the Americas

June 06, 2024

Cactus is not a "friendly" plant, although its flowers are gorgeous and its fruits are juicy, it is covered in sharp spikes all over. It is difficult to associate cacti with food, but many types of cacti are actually edible, such as pear fruit cacti (Mibonta variety), which is a cactus variety announced by the Chinese Health Commission as a food ingredient.

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01
The historical

source of pear cactus, also known as Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill, is a tropical and subtropical plant belonging to the cactus genus in the cactus family. It can grow in arid and semi-arid climates, and its geographical distribution includes Mexico, Latin America, South Africa, and Mediterranean countries. It was introduced to China from Mexico in 1998 and is mainly grown in Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and other places in China. Pear fruit cactus is one of the most economically important cactus species in the world. Archaeological botanical evidence suggests that this species was used 8000 years ago and domestication began in Mexico. It was brought to Spain in the early 16th century to support the reproduction of cochineal worms, a parasite of the cactus genus. The highly acclaimed red dye cochineal red is extracted from cochineal worms. Pear fruit cacti spread from Spain to the Mediterranean Basin and then to other parts of the world, thanks to sailors using it as a food source for preventing scurvy during long journeys. Today, pear cacti are distributed around the world. Cactus fruits can be eaten fresh or made into jam, while stems can be used as vegetables and animal feed.

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02
The nutritional components of pear cactus.

The branched stems of pear cactus have thick flesh and are adapted to arid environments. Its main function is to store water. Therefore, the main component of branched stems is water (88-95%), which is a low calorie food (27 kcal/100 g). In terms of fresh weight, the chemical composition of branched stems has the highest water content, followed by carbon compounds (3-7%), fiber (1-2%), minerals (1-2%), protein (0.5-1%), reducing sugars (0.64-0.88%), and lipids (0.2%). In addition, branched stems also contain ascorbic acid (10-15 mg/100 g), carotenoids (30 μ g/100 g, mainly β - carotenoids), and chlorophyll (12.5 mg/100 g). In terms of minerals, the thallus contains potassium (2.35-55.20 mg/100 g), calcium (5.64-17.95 mg/100 g), magnesium (8.8 mg/100 g), phosphorus (0.15-2.59 mg/100 g), sodium (0.3-0.4 mg/100 g), manganese (0.19-0.29 mg/100 g), iron (0.09 mg/100 g), and zinc (0.08 mg/100 g). In addition, pear cactus also contains polyphenols, betaine, and betaine with antioxidant properties. The plant mucus of pear fruit cactus contains D-glucose, D-galactose, L-arabinose, D-fructose, L-fructose, D-galactonic acid, and glucuronic acid. Pear fruit fairy palm flower contains different flavonoids, especially resveratrol and quercetin. Immortal palm skin lipids are rich in essential fatty acids and lipid soluble antioxidants, which can be used to prepare Immortal palm oil.

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The function of pear fruit cactus

Traditional medical applications indicate that the active ingredients in pear fruit fairy palm have multiple benefits.

1) Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory

According to a 2020 research article, the peel of pear cactus contains high levels of antioxidants and exhibits high antioxidant activity. Betaine and polyphenols in pear cactus have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which can support overall health and resist harmful free radicals. They can slow down skin aging by combating oxidative stress and inflammation that cause skin cell aging. Anti inflammatory agents can help soothe the skin and may even prevent skin problems such as acne and eczema. In addition, pear fruit cactus extract may help treat minor cuts, wounds, and blemishes. This is also because they have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant rich properties.

2) Protecting the liver

According to reports, pear fruit fairy palm can also help alleviate alcohol hangover symptoms in humans. The serious cause of alcohol hangover may be inflammation caused by impurities in alcoholic beverages and byproducts of alcohol metabolism. Pear fruit fairy palm Plant extract can alleviate alcohol hangover symptoms in humans, such as nausea, dry mouth, and anorexia. A study by the Durham University Center for Health Sciences in 2004 showed that cactus fruits can alleviate certain symptoms of hangovers by 50%. It is speculated that the positive effect of cactus fruits on hangovers is due to the inhibition of alcohol induced inflammation. A study in Italy in 2005 proved that cacti can improve the function of liver cells. Hepatocytes are key functional cells in the liver, accounting for 80% of the liver volume and participating in all major functions.

3) Weight control

Pear fruit cacti are rich in fiber, which can make people feel full. At the same time, these fibers can also combine with dietary fat to form insoluble complexes, increase fat excretion, promote digestion, and thus help reduce weight. A study on the mechanism of action of pear cactus in the gastrointestinal (GI) model found that 2 grams of pear cactus fiber prevented the absorption of 2.7 grams of fatty acids during a four hour GI exposure. This study suggests that this fiber has potential value in reducing fat absorption and promoting weight loss.

4) Lowering blood sugar

In 2014, the Journal of the Society of Nutrition and Diet published a study that evaluated the effects of cactus on postprandial glucose, insulin, glucose dependent insulin secretory peptide (GIP) and glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) in patients with type 2 diabetes after eating high carbohydrate (HCB) or high soy protein breakfast (HSPB). The results show that cactus intake can reduce postprandial blood glucose, insulin and GIP index, which can benefit patients with type 2 diabetes.
5) Other

Pear and cactus fruits are rich in Vitamin C, which can enhance immunity; Pear and cactus fruits also contain rich calcium, which can improve bone density. A study conducted in 2004 investigated the effect of consuming pear cactus fruit with vitamin C. The results indicate that combining pear and cactus fruits with vitamin C for consumption may potentially reduce oxidative stress as a whole. In addition, pear fruit cactus also has neuroprotective and diuretic effects.

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2024-06-06

Shaanxi Huike Botanical Development Co., Ltd.

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