Cactus, particularly a species known as prickly pear cactus, has a considerable reputation in Native American and Mexican herbal traditions and is featured on the Mexican flag because of its cultural significance. Prickly pear cactus has the status of a functional food -- one that provides health benefits beyond its nutritional content. Among its purported effects on health, prickly pear cactus offers cholesterol-lowering benefits.
Pectin
Prickly pear cactus contains high levels of pectin, a form of soluble fiber that decreases cholesterol and blood sugar levels, according to nutritional consultant Ran Knishinsky, author of the "Prickly Pear Cactus Medicine: Treatments for Diabetes, Cholesterol, and the Immune System." While pectin is present in many other plant foods, certain characteristics of prickly pear pectin make it particularly potent in reducing cholesterol levels and up to three times as effective as citrus pectin. Though the precise mechanism is not known, one possible explanation for prickly pear's cholesterol-lowering effects is its ability to bind to bile acids, which are made of cholesterol, and remove them from the body. Prickly pear is also thought to prevent cholesterol absorption. Yet another possibility is that the cactus promotes production of short-chain fatty acids, which are beneficial in that they are absorbed directly into the liver instead of spending time circulating in your bloodstream.
Vitamin C
High vitamin C levels in prickly pear cactus help prevent oxidation of cholesterol, a process that initiates arterial plaque formation, says George T. Grossberg in his book "The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide: The Safe Way to Use Medications and supplements Together." Prickly pear contains about between 100 and 150 mg per kilogram of vitamin C.
Effects on LDL and HDL
A study published in the September 2007 issue of the journal "Advances in Therapy" found that a commercial preparation of prickly pear cactus decreased levels of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, the "bad" form of cholesterol. Study participants were all diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, a combination of factors that increases risk for cardiovascular disease. For six weeks they took 1.6 g doses of cactus in capsule form at each meal. Levels of high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, the "good" form of cholesterol, increased, and triglycerides decreased in female participants over 45 years of age.
Antioxidant Activity
Antioxidant activity gives prickly pear cactus significant cholesterol-protecting and cholesterol-lowering benefits, according to a study published in the July 2008 issue of the journal "Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin." In this laboratory animal study, 50 mg per kilogram body weight of antioxidant extract of prickly pear cactus for two weeks resulted in lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Cactus extract increased levels of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase.
Dosage and Considerations
You can take your daily dose of prickly pear as a serving of 100 to 500 g of broiled cactus stem. Prickly pear is also available as a concentrated liquid extract or in capsules. Because prickly pear may lower blood sugar levels, if you are diabetic or insulin resistant and on medication, cactus may interfere with the medication. Consult your doctor for guidance and supervision in the safe use of prickly pear cactus.
References
- "Prickly Pear Cactus Medicine"; Ran Knishinsky; 2004
- "The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide"; G.T. Grossberg and B. Fox; 2007
- "Advances in Therapy"; The Effect of Neopuntia on Blood Lipid Parameters -- Risk Factors for the Metabolic Syndrome (Syndrome X); E. Linarès et al.; September 2007
- "Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin"; Glycoprotein (90 Kda) Isolated From Opuntia Ficus-indica Var. Saboten Makino Lowers Plasma Lipid Level Through Scavenging of Intracellular Radicals in Triton Wr-1339-Induced Mice; P. Oh and K. Lim; July 2006
- "Fruit and Vegetable Phytochemicals: Chemistry, Nutritional Value, and Stability"; Laura A. De La Rosa; 2010
