Phytochemical characterization and biological activities evaluation of Opuntia sp. cladodes

• DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2024.03.024
• Publication Date: 2024-03-19T19:14:38Z
• Authors: Hassiba Chahdoura; Anis Ben Hsouna; Mohamed Ali Boujbiha; Wissem Mnif; Mejdi Snoussi; Mehdi Khemiss; Safia El Bok; Manel Ben M'hadheb; Stefania Garzoli; Habib Mosbah
• Keywords: Cladodes; Phytochemical

ThepricklypearisaplantbelongingtotheCactaceaefamily,anditisthebest-knownspeciesthathasgainedsignificantrecognitioninrecentyears.Opuntiasp.cladodeshavebeentraditionallyutilizedasafunctionalfoodandintraditionalmedicinefortreatingchronicdiseases.Therefore,thisstudyaimstoevaluatetheanti-oxidant,antimicrobial,andpharmacologicalactivitiesofcladodeextractsfromOpuntiamicrodasys(Cl1)andOpuntiamacrorhiza(Cl2),aswellastoidentifytheirphytochemicalcompounds.Thechemicalcompositionofthecladodeextractswasanalyzedusingspectrophotometricmethods,whiletheantioxidantactivitywasdeterminedthroughDNAnickingassays.Microdilutionassayswereemployedtoassesstheantimicrobialactivity.Analgesicandanti-inflammatoryactivitiesweredeterminedusingtheaceticacidwrithingtestinmiceandthecarrageenan-inducedWistarratpawedematest.TheresultsrevealedthatthetwoextractsofcladodesfromCl1andCl2werecharacterizedbyahighphenoliccontent(58.13and44.58GAE/gofextract,respectively).Allthetestedextractsexhibitedantimicrobialactivityagainstthestrainstested,withMini-mumInhibitoryConcentration(MIC)valuesrangingfrom0.312to5mg/mLandMinimumBactericidalCon-centration(MBC)valuesrangingfrom1.25to10mg/mL.ThecladodeextractsofCl1andCl2atadoseof300mg/kgshowedadose-dependentinhibitionofaceticacid-inducedwrithinginmice,withrespectiveval-uesof64.76%and61.91%.Themaximumanti-inflammatoryactivityofalldosesofcladodeextractswasobserved5haftercarrageenan-inducedpawedema,andalltesteddosessignificantlyinhibitedtheinducedinflammation.