Nopal Cactus

Nopal

Other Names: Barbary-fig Cactus, Cactus Flowers, Cactus Fruit, Cactus Pear Fruit, Figue d’Inde, Figuier de Barbarie, Fruit du Cactus, Fruit de l’Oponce, Gracemere-Pear, Indian-fig Prickly Pear Cactus, Indien-Figue, Nopal, Nopal Cactus, Nopales, Nopol, OPI, Oponce, Opuntia, Opuntia cardona, Opuntia ficus, Opuntia ficus-indica, Opuntia Fruit, Opuntia fuliginosa, Opuntia hyptiacantha, Opuntia lasciacantha, Opuntia macrocentra, Opuntia megacantha, Opuntia puberula, Opuntia streptacantha, Opuntia velutina, Opuntia violacea, Prickly Pear, Tuna Cardona, Westwood-Pear.
Nopal cactus, also well known as prickly pear cactus, has been a staple part of Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine for centuries. The green pads of the nopal cactus are cooked and added to tacos, egg dishes, and Mexican salads. Research within the past ten years has caused nopal cactus to be considered a super-food, due to its antioxidant and cholesterol-reducing properties.

Special Precautions of Nopal Cactus

Prickly pear cactus is LIKELY SAFE when eaten as food. The leaves, stems, flowers, fruit and standardized extracts of the prickly pear cactus are POSSIBLY SAFE when used as medicine in appropriate amounts for a short period of time.

• Prickly pear cactus can cause some side effects including mild diarrhea, nausea, increased amount and frequency of stool, bloating, and headache.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of prickly pear cactus during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
• Diabetes: Prickly pear cactus might lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use prickly pear cactus.
• Surgery: Prickly pear cactus might affect blood sugar levels, making blood sugar control difficult during and after surgery. Stop using prickly pear cactus at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
• Chlorpropamide (Diabinese) interacts with PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS. Chlorpropamide (Diabinese) is used to decrease blood sugar in people with diabetes. Prickly pear cactus might also decrease blood sugar. Taking prickly pear cactus along with chlorpropamide (Diabinese) might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your chlorpropamide (Diabinese) might need to be changed.
• Glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase) interacts with PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS. Glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase) is used to decrease blood sugar in people with diabetes. Prickly pear cactus might also decrease blood sugar. Taking prickly pear cactus along with glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase) might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase) might need to be changed.
• Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS. Prickly pear cactus can decrease blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes. medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking prickly pear cactus along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
• Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
• Metformin (Glucophage) interacts with PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS. Metformin (Glucophage) is used to decrease blood sugar in people with diabetes. Prickly pear cactus might also decrease blood sugar. Taking prickly pear cactus along with metformin (Glucophage) might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your metformin (Glucophage) might need to be changed.

The benefits of Nopal Cactus are

• Diabetes. The broiled stems of one prickly pear cactus species (Opuntia streptacantha) seem to lower blood sugar levels in people who have type 2 diabetes. Single doses can decrease blood sugar levels by 17% to 46% in some people. However, it is not known if extended daily use can consistently lower blood sugar levels. Raw or crude stems of this species do not seem to work. Other prickly pear cactus species don’t seem to work either. The fruit of the prickly pear is rich in betalains. Several clinical studies suggest nopal cactus is beneficial for diabetics because it reduces blood glucose levels.
• Hangover. Taking prickly pear cactus before drinking alcohol might reduce some symptoms of hangover the next day. It seems to significantly reduce nausea, anorexia, and dry mouth. But it doesn’t seem to reduce other hangover symptoms such as headache, dizziness, diarrhea, or soreness.
• A small study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2004 shows that nopal may help fight oxidative stress (an aging-related biological process closely linked to a number of diseases). In a two-week-long trial involving 18 healthy volunteers, researchers found that nopal helped reduce oxidative stress and improve antioxidant status.
• Enlarged prostate. Men with an enlarged prostate often feel their bladder is full, and they experience frequent, strong urges to urinate. Developing evidence suggests that taking powdered prickly pear cactus flowers may reduce these symptoms.
• High blood cholesterol.More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness.
• Obesity : More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness
• Colitis : More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness
• Diarrhea : More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness
• Treating infections caused by viruses : More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness

References

• Butterweck V, Semlin L, Feistel B, Pischel I, Bauer K, Verspohl EJ. "Comparative evaluation of two different Opuntia ficus-indica extracts for blood sugar lowering effects in rats." Phytother Res. 2011 Mar;25(3):370-5.
• Godard MP, Ewing BA, Pischel I, Ziegler A, Benedek B, Feistel B. "Acute blood glucose lowering effects and long-term safety of OpunDia supplementation in pre-diabetic males and females." J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Aug 9;130(3):631-4.
• Tesoriere L, Butera D, Pintaudi AM, Allegra M, Livrea MA. "Supplementation with cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit decreases oxidative stress in healthy humans: a comparative study with vitamin C." Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Aug;80(2):391-5.
• Wiese J, McPherson S, Odden MC, Shlipak MG. "Effect of Opuntia ficus indica on symptoms of the alcohol hangover." Arch Intern Med. 2004 Jun 28;164(12):1334-40.