CACTUS PEAR FRUIT EXTRACT EXERTS ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS IN CARRAGEENIN-INDUCED RAT PLEURISY

M. Allegra, L. Tesoriere, M.A. Livrea, A. Ianaro, E. Panza
Nutritional research has recently shifted from alleviating nutrient deficiencies to chronic disease prevention. In this study activity of cactus pear fruit extract (CPFE) from Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. has been investigated in carrageenin-induced pleurisy, a rat model of acute inflammation. In our experimental design rat pleurisy was achieved by the injection of 0.2 ml of λ-carrageenin in the pleural cavity. At selected time points, rats were sacrificed; cells recruited in pleura were counted and exudates collected to analyse inflammatory parameters such as NO, PGE2, IL-1β, TNF-α. CPFE (in the range between 5 and 20 g fresh fruit equivalent/kg), orally given 30 min before the injection, time- and dose-dependently reduced the exudate volume (up to 72%) and the number of leukocytes recruited in the pleural cavity (up to 96%), at 24 h. These anti-inflammatory effects were accompanied by an inhibited release of inflammatory mediators (PGE2, NO, IL-1β, TNF-α). Our in vivo findings unveil for the first time an anti-inflammatory potential for cactus pear fruit and suggest further investigations to propose cactus pear fruit as a functional food able to improve health, possibly by preventing inflammation-based disorders.
Allegra, M., Tesoriere, L., Livrea, M.A., Ianaro, A. and Panza, E. (2015). CACTUS PEAR FRUIT EXTRACT EXERTS ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS IN CARRAGEENIN-INDUCED RAT PLEURISY. Acta Hortic. 1067, 19-25
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1067.1
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1067.1
cactus pear fruit, indicaxanthin, phytochemicals, inflammation, in vivo
English

Acta Horticulturae