The aim of our present study is to investigate the effect of Opuntia ficus indica f. inermis prickly pear juice (PPJ) against ethanol-induced liver injury in rats. Chronic ethanol administration (3 g/kg b.w.) during 90 days to Wistar rats, significantly (p < 0.01) increased the liver lipid and protein oxidation, reduced the glutathione content and the activities of liver antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and conversely elevated the liver injury biochemical markers like aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, cholesterol, triglycerides and caused a severe histopathologic injuries. Conversely pre-treatment of ethanol-fed rats with PPJ (20 and 40 ml/kg b.w., orally), interestingly reduced liver lipid and protein oxidation, histopathologic lesions and inhibited the alterations of antioxidant enzymes and the release of biochemical markers. The hepatoprotective effect of PPJ could be due to their capacity to end free radicals chain reactions or to enhance the endogenous antioxidants activities.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.4149/gpb_2012_038 | DOI Listing |
Food Chem
January 2025
Integrated Crop Production Research Unit, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, 10090 Rabat, Morocco.
Argan (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) is an endangered agroforestry species known for producing one of most expensive and sought-after oils in the world. Argan forests are a suitable habitat for medfly (Ceratitis capitata).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFoods
January 2025
MEtRICs, Departamento de Química, NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
Prickly pear consumption is increasing across the world due to its rich variety of nutrients and bioactive compounds. Yet, it is a seasonal and highly perishable fruit, and the application of edible coatings emerges as an alternative to extend its shelf life. In this work, the effects of alginate, starch, chitosan, and pectin as coatings on the physicochemical, bioactive, microbiological, and textural properties of two prickly pear varieties (orange and red), kept under refrigeration (5 ± 2 °C) were evaluated for 6 weeks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProc Biol Sci
January 2025
Department of Biology, California State University Northridge, Northridge, CA, USA.
Coral reefs experience numerous environmental gradients affecting organismal physiology and species biodiversity, which ultimately impact community metabolism. This study shows that submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), a common natural environmental gradient in coastal ecosystems associated with decreasing temperatures, salinity and pH with increasing nutrients, has both direct and indirect effects on coral reef community metabolism by altering individual growth rates and community composition. Our data revealed that SGD exposure hindered the growth of two algae, and by 67 and 200%, respectively, and one coral, by 20%.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Omega
January 2025
Department of Food Engineering, Technology Center, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná 87020-900, Brazil.
This work analyzes the production of a hydrogel composed of mucilage from the cactus (OFI) and sodium alginate. In obtaining the new material, green synthesis was used, free of chemical compounds, and applied in the treatment of textile effluent for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB). The hydrogel was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and zeta potential.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Nutr Food Res
January 2025
Department for Sustainability, ENEA-Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Roma, Italy.
The effect of a mucilage extracted from Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill (OFI) cladodes was tested in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells, through a combined in vitro-in silico approach. The OFI mucilage was characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry.
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