USDA PHYTOCHEMICAL DATABASE

United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

Beltsville Agricultural Research Center

Beltsville, Maryland

Chemicals and Their Biological Activities in Opuntia Ficus Indica (Cactaceae) - - Nopal, Nopalito, Prickly Pear Cactus, Indian Fig

Nopal includes the following “Phytochemicals.” These Phytochemicals are found in the stems (pads), fruit (tunas), flower and seeds of the Nopal plant. For each of the Phytochemicals found in Nopal, a brief listing of major biological properties (activities) indicated by the USDA is also shown.

AMINO ACIDS

Alanine

• Antioxidant

• Cancer-Preventive

Arginine

• Antidiabetic

• Antihepatitic

• Antiimpotence

• Antiinfertility

• Antioxidant

• Diuretic

• Pituitary Stimulant

• Spermigenic

Aspartic Acid

• Neuroexcitant

Cystine

• Anticataract

• Anticytotoxic

• Antioxidant

• Antitumor

• Antiulcer

• Cancer Preventive

• Detoxicant

Glutamic Acid

• Antiepileptic

• Antihyperammonemic

• Antiprostatitic

• Antiretardation

Glycine

• Antiacid

• Antidote

• Antiencephalopathic

• Antigastritic

• Antiprostatitic

• Antiulcer

• Cancer-preventive

Histamine

• Antimigraine

• Bronchostimulant

• Cardiovascular

• Gastrostimulant

• Histaminic

• Hypotensive

• Radioprotective

• Vasodilator

Isoleucine

• Antiencephalopathic

• Antipellagric

• Essential

Leucine

• Antiencephalopathic

• Essential

Lysine

• Antiherpetic

• Essential

Methionine

• Anticataract

• Antidote (Acetaminophen)

• Antidote (Paracetamol)

• Antieczemic

• Antihepatotic

• Antioxidant

• Antiparkinsonian

• Cancer-Preventive

• Essential

• Hepatoprotecdtive

Phenylalanine

• Antiosteoporotic

• Immunostimulant

• Osteogenic

Proline

• No activity reported

Serine

• Cancer-Preventive

Threonine

• Antioxidant

• Antiulcer

• Essential

Tyrosine

• Antiencephalapathic

• Antiparkinsonian

• Antiulcer

• Cancer-Preventive

Tryptophan

• Analgesic

• Antianxiety

• Antidementia

• Antidepressant

• Antihypertensive

• Antiinsominiac

• Antimenopausal

• Antimigraine

• Antioxiant

• Antiparkinsonian

• Antipsychotic

• Antirheumatic

• Essential

• Hypoglycemic

• Hypotesive

• Insulinotonic

• Sedative

• Serotoninergic

Valine

• Antiencephalopathic

• Essential

VITAMINS

Ascorbic-Acid (Vitamin C)

• Analgesic

• Antiaging

• Antiarthritic

• Antiasthmatic

• Antiatherosclerotic

• Antibacterial

• Anticataract

• Anticold

• AntiCrohn’s

• Antidepressant

• Antidiabetic

• Antidote (Aluminum)

• Antidote (Camium)

• Antidote (Lead)

• Antidote (Paraquat)

• Antiencephalitic

• Antigingivitic

• Antiglaucomic

• Antihemorrhagic

• Antihepatitic

• Antihepatotoxic

• Antiherpetic

• Antihistaminic

• Antiinfertility

• Antiinflammatory

• Antimigraine

• Antimutagenic

• Antiobesity

• Antiosteoarthritic

• Antiosteoporotic

• Antioxidant

• Antiparkinsonian

• Antipneumonic

• Antitumor (Lung)

• Antiulcer

• Antiviral

• Asthma-preventive

• Cancer-Preventive

• Cold-Preventive

• Collagenic

• Detoxicant

• Diuretic

• Fistula-Preventive

• Hypocholesterolemic

• Hypoglycemic

• Hypotensive

• Immunostimulant

Beta-Carotene (Vitamin A)

• Allergenic

• Antiacne

• Antiaging

• Antiasthmatic

• Anticancer

• Anticarcinomic

• Anticoronary

• Antihyperkeratotic

• Antimutagenic

• Antioxidant

• Antistress

• Antitumor

• Antiulcer

• Cancer-Preventive

• Immunostimulant

• Thymoprotective

Niacin (Vitamin B-3)

• Antiallergic

• Anticonvulsant

• Atiepileptic

• Antihistaminic

• Antiinsomnic

• Antiparkinsonian

• Antipellagric

• Antivertigo

• Cancer-Preventive

• Hepatoprotecitive

• Hypoglycemic

• Sedative

• Serotoninergic

• Vasodilator

Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2)

• Anticarpal-Tunnel

• Anticataract

• Antimigraine

• Antipellagric

• Cancer-Preventive

Thiamin (Vitamin B-1)

• Analgesic

• Antialcoholic

• Antialzheimeran

• Antianorectic

• Antibackache

• Antiberiberi

• Anticardiospasmic

• Antideliriant

• Antiencephalopatic

• Antifatigue

• Antigastritic

• Antiheartburn

• Antiherpetic

• Antimigraine

• Antimyocarditic

• Antineuropathic

Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

• Analgesic

• Antiaging

• Antialzheimeran

• Antiarteriosclerotic

• Antiatherosclerotic

• Antibronchitic

• Anticancer

• Anticataract

• Atidiabetic

• Antiherpetic

• Antiinflammatory

• Antileukemic

• Antiosteoarthritic

• Antioxidant

• Antiparkinsonian

• Antiretinopathic

• Antisenility

• Antistroke

• Antitoxemic

• Antitumor (Breast)

• Antitumor (Colorectal)

• Antitumor (Prostate)

• Cancer-Preventive

• Cerebroprotective

• Circulatory-Stimulant

• Hepatoprotective

• Hypodcholesterolemic

• Hypoglycemic

• Immunostimulant

• Insulin-Sparing

• Vasodilator

MINERALS

Calcium

• Antiallergic

• Antianxiety

• Antiatherosclerotic

• Antidepressant

• Antidote (Al

• uminum)

• Antidote (Lead)

• Antihyperkinetic

• Antiinsomniac

• Atiosteoporotic

• Antiperiodontitic

• Hypocholesterolemic

• Hypotensive

Copper

• Antiarthritic

• Antidiabetic

• Antiinflammatory

• Hypocholesterolemic

Iron

• Antiakathisic

• Antianemic

• Antimenorrhagic

Magnesium

• Antianorectic

• Antianxiety

• Antiartritic

• Antiasthmatic

• Antiatherosclerotic

• Anticonvulsant

• Anticoronary

• Antidepressant

• Antidiabetic

• Antiglaucomic

• Antihyperkinetic

• Antihypoglycemic

• Antiinflammatory

• Antiinsomniac

• Antimigraine

• Antineurotic

• Antiosteoporotic

• Antiretinopathic

• Antistroke

• Hypocholesterolemic

• Hypotensive

• Insulinogenic

• Vasodilator

Phosphorus

• Antiosteoporotic

• Immunostimulant

• Osteogenic

Potassium

• Antidepressant

• Antifatigue

• Antihypertensive

• Antispasmodic

Zinc

• Antiacne

• Antialzheimeran

• Antianorexic

• Antiarthritic

• Anticanker

• Anticataract

• Anticold

• AntiCrohn’s

• Antidiabetic

• Antidote (Cadmium)

• Antiencephalopathic

• Antiepileptic

• Antiherpetic

• Antiimpotence

• Antiinfective

• Antiinfertility

• Antiinsomniac

• Antiobesity

• Antiprostatitic

• Antiulcer

• Antiviral

• Deodorant

• Hypotensive

• Immunostimulant

• Immunosuppressant

• Insulinogenic

• Spermigenic

• Tetosteronigenic

FIBER

• Antidiabetic

• Antiobesity

• Antitumor

• Antiulcer

• Caner-Preventive

• Cardioprotective

• Hypocholesterolemic

• Hypotensive

• Laxative

Pectin

• Antiatheromic

• Antibacterial

• Antidiabetic

• Antidiarrheic

• Antimutagenic

• Antiobesity

• Antitumor (Colon)

• Antiulcer

• Cancer-Preventive

• Fungicide

• Hypocholesterolemic

• Hypoglycemic

GUM

Galactose

• Sweetner

Xylose

• Antidiabetic

OTHER PHYTOCHEMICALS

Beta-Sitosterol

• Antibacterial

• Anticancer (Breast)

• Antiinflammatory

• Antileukemic

• Antilymphomic

• Antimutagenic

• Antiprostatitic

• Antitumor (Cervix)

• Antitumor (Lung)

• Antiviral

• Cancer-Preventive

• Estrogenic

• Hepatoprotective

• Hypocholesterolemic

• Hypolipidemic

Citric Acid

• Antibacterial

• Antimutagenic

• Antioxidant Synergist

• Antiseptic

• Antitubercular

• Antitumor

Kaempferol

• Antiallergic

• Antibacterial

• Anticancer

• Antifertility

• Antigingivitic

• Antihistaminic

• Antiinflammatory

• Antileukemic

• Antimutagenic

• Antioxidant

• Antiperiodontic

• Antiplaque

• Antispasmodic

• Antitumor

• Antiulcer

• Antiviral

• Cancer-Preventive

• Cardcinogenic

• Siuretic

• Estrogenic

• Hepatoprotective

• Hypotensive

• Neuroprotective

• Vasodilator

Linoleic Acid

• Antiarteriosclerotic

• Antiarthritic

• Anticoronary

• Antieczemic

• Antihistaminic

• Antiinflammatory

• Antiprostatitic

• Cancer-Preventive

• Hepatoprotective

• Hypocholesterolemic

• Immunomodulator

Luteolin

• Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

• Antiallergic

• Antiatherogenic

• Antibacterial

• Anticarcinogenic

• Anticataract

• Antiherpetic

• Antihistaminic

• Antiinflammatory

• Antileukemic

• Antimutagenic

• Antioxidant

• Antitumor (Skin)

• Antitumor (Thyroid)

• Antiviral

• Cancer-Preventive

• Hepatoprotective

• Vasodilator

Malic Acid

• Antibacterial

• Antioxidant Synergist

• Antiseborrheic

• Antitubercular

• Antitumor

Oleic Acid

• 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

• Antiinflammatory

• Antileukotriene

• Cancer-Preventive

• Dermatitigenic

• Hypocholesterolemic

Palmitic Acid

• 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

• Antifibrinolytic

• Nematicide

Penduletin

• Antipolio

• Antihinoviral

• Antiviral

Rutin

• Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

• Antiatherogenic

• Antibacterial

• Anticancer

• Anticataract

• Anticonvulsant

• Antidementia

• Antidermatitic BIS

• Antidiabetic

• Antihemorrhoidal

• Antihepatotoxic

• Antiherpetic

• Antihistaminic

• Antihypertensive

• Antiinflammatory

• Antimalarial

• Antimutagenic

• Antioxidant

• Antispasmodic

• Anitsunburn

• Antitumor

• Antiulcer

• Antivaricose

• Antiviral

• Cancer-Preventive

• Capillariprotective

• Hypocholesterolemic

• Hypotensive

• Lipoxgenase-Inhibitor

• Radioprotective

• Sunscreen

Shikimic Acid

• Analgesic

• Anticancer

• Antioxidant

• Antispamodic

• Antitumor

• Antitumor-Promoter

• Cancer-Preventive

Stearic Acid

• 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

• Hypocholesterolemic

Sucrose

• Antihiccup

• Antiophthalmic

• Antioxidant

• Atherogenic

• Hypercholesterolemic

• Preservative