Pilosocereus gounellei (Cactaceae) stem extract decreases insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardio-metabolic risk in diet-induced obese mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Pilosocereus gounellei (xique-xique) is a popular cactus from Caatinga, traditionally used to counter inflammatory processes and indicated as a hypoglycemic agent. Previous studies have shown that mice treated orally with saline extract of P. gounellei stem (containing flavonoids and sugars) showed decreased serum lipid levels.