Prickly pear is the fruit of a cactus that grows widely in desert or semi-desert regions. The fruit is delicious (one of my favorite fruits) and has many health benefits. Prickly pear ( also known as Opuntia ) contains many flavonoids, including quercetin.

Opuntia Prickly Pear
100 Capsules
Nature's Way
Nature's Way's Opuntia capsules contain the flower portion of the medicinally useful prickly pear cactus.

Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) is a large genus in the cactus family with over 300 species. Opuntia ficus-indica, native to Mexico, was taken to Europe at an early date and is now common in many warmer regions of the world. Used traditionally as an ointment, opuntia has also been taken internally and used as a folk medicine.

Recommendation: As an addition to the daily diet, take two prickly pear capsules 1 TO 3  times daily with water.

Prickly Pear Supplement Facts
Serving Size 1 Capsules
Serving Per Container 50

Amount Per Serving
Prickly Pear (flower) 250 mg*
Zinc 20 mg 133%DV
    (as Zinc amino acid chelate)
Copper -  4 mg 200%DV
    (as copper amino acid chelate) 

*Prickly Pear Daily Value not established.

Retail: $ 8.99   Sale Price: $ 5.95

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Benefits of Prickly Pear or Cactus Pear
Prickly pear extract contains powerful antioxidants, may be helpful in gastic ulcer prevention, has blood lipid and cholesterol lowering potential, and may even ease hangover symptoms.
        Consumption of cactus pear fruit  decreases oxidative damage to lipids, and improves antioxidant status in healthy humans. Supplementation with vitamin C at a comparable dosage enhances overall antioxidant defense but does not significantly affect body oxidative stress. Components of cactus pear fruit other than antioxidant vitamins may play a role in the observed effects.

Prickly Pear Cactus Research Update
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.
Cactus pear ( prickly pear ) fruit contains vitamin C and characteristic betalain pigments, the radical-scavenging properties and antioxidant activities of which have been shown in vitro. We investigated the effects of short-term supplementation with prickly pear cactus  fruit compared with vitamin C alone on total-body oxidative status in healthy humans. In a randomized, crossover, double-treatment study, 18 healthy volunteers received either 250 g fresh prickly pear pulp or 75 mg vitamin C twice daily for 2 wk, with a 6-wk washout period between the treatments. RESULTS: Both treatments caused comparable increases compared with baseline in plasma concentrations of vitamin E and vitamin C. After supplementation with cactus pear fruit, malondialdehyde decreased by approximately 75%; GSH:GSSG shifted toward a higher value; and LDL hydroperoxides were reduced by almost one-half. Supplementation with vitamin C did not significantly affect any marker of oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of cactus prickly pear fruit positively affects the body's redox balance, decreases oxidative damage to lipids, and improves antioxidant status in healthy humans. Supplementation with vitamin C at a comparable dosage enhances overall antioxidant defense but does not significantly affect body oxidative stress. Components of cactus pear fruit other than antioxidant vitamins may play a role in the observed effects.

Constituents of the stems and fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten.
Arch Pharm Res. 2003 Dec;26(12):1018-23.
From the stems and fruits of prickly pear cactus, eight flavonoids, kaempferol (1), quercetin (2), kaempferol 3-methyl ether (3), quercetin 3-methyl ether (4), narcissin (5), (+)-dihydrokaempferol (aromadendrin, 6), (+)-dihydroquercetin (taxifolin, 7), eriodictyol (8), and two terpenoids, were isolated and identified by means of chemical and spectroscopic.

Hypoglycemic activity of two polysaccharides isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica ( prickly pear cactus ) and O. streptacantha.
Proc West Pharmacol Soc. 2003;46:139-42.

Neuroprotective effects of antioxidative flavonoids, quercetin, (+)-dihydroquercetin and quercetin 3-methyl ether, isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten (prikly pear).
Brain Res. 2003 Mar 7;965(1-2):130-6.
The flavonoids quercetin, (+)-dihydroquercetin, and quercetin 3-methyl ether were isolated from the ethyl acetate fractions of the fruits and stems of prickly pear cactus. In the present study, we evaluated their protective effects against oxidative neuronal injuries induced in primary cultured rat cortical cells and their antioxidant activities by using three different cell-free bioassays. Quercetin was found to inhibit H(2)O(2)- or xanthine (X)/xanthine oxidase (XO)-induced oxidative neuronal cell injury. All three principles markedly inhibited lipid peroxidation. These results indicate that quercetin, (+)-dihydroquercetin, and quercetin 3-methyl ether are the active antioxidant principles in the fruits and stems of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten exhibiting neuroprotective actions against the oxidative injuries induced in cortical cell cultures. Furthermore, quercetin 3-methyl ether appears to be the most potent neuroprotectant of the three flavonoids isolated from this plant. Prickly pear research.

Antiulcer activity of Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae): ultrastructural study.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2001 Jun;76(1):1-9.
In Sicily folk medicine, Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. cladodes (prickly pear)s are used for the treatment of gastric ulcer. We studied the effect of administration of lyophilized prickly pear cladodes on experimental ethanol-induced ulcer in rat. In this paper, we report the ultrastructural observations of gastric mucosa. The ultrastructural changes were observed by trasmission electronic microscopy (TEM) confirming the protective effect exercised by administration of lyophilized cladodes. Pre-treatment test in rats revealed a protective action against ethanol-induced ulcer. Probably, the mucilage of prickly pear cactus is involved.

An anti-inflammatory principle from prickly pear cactus.
Fitoterapia. 2001 Mar;72(3):288-90.
In previous studies, the ethanol extract of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) showed potent anti-inflammatory action. In the present study, following fractionation of the methanol extract of prickly pear cactus stems guided by adjuvant-induced chronic inflammation model in mice, an active anti-inflammatory principle has been isolated and identified as beta-sitosterol.

Effect of raw and cooked nopal (Opuntia ficus indica, prickly pear cactus) ingestion on growth and profile of total cholesterol, lipoproteins, and blood glucose in rats]
Arch Latinoam Nutr. 1998 Dec;48(4):316-23.
Two different concentrations (approx. 6 and 12%) and two presentations (raw and cooked) of dehydrated prickly pear cactus were fed to laboratory rats and growth and serum total cholesterol, lipoprotein profile and glucose determined. Samples of raw and cooked nopal prickly pear were chemically characterized for moisture, protein, ash, crude fiber, ether extract, total dietary fiber, reducing sugars, amino acids, minerals and gross energy. Cooking slightly affected some of the nutrients analyzed. After one month feeding, blood was withdrawn via intracardiac puncture and serum glucose, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and VLDL were determined. Rats fed 12% nopal had lower weight gains (P < 0.05) when compared with counterparts fed 6% nopal or the control diet. Consumption of nopal did not affect (P > 0.05) glucose, total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels. However, rats fed raw nopal at the 12% concentration level had a 34% reduction in LDL cholesterol levels; thus, it was concluded that raw nopal prickly pear had a potentially beneficial effect for hypercholesterolemic individuals.

Studies on the pharmacological action of prickly pear cactus: identification of its anti-inflammatory effect.
Arch Pharm Res. 1998 Feb;21(1):30-4.
The ethanol extracts of prickly pear cactus fruit and prickly pear cactus stem were prepared and used to evaluate the pharmacological effects of cactus. Both the extracts inhibited the writhing syndrome induced by acetic acid, indicating that they contains analgesic effect. The oral administrations of prickly pear extracts suppressed carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and also showed potent inhibition in the leukocyte migration of CMC-pouch model in rats. Moreover, the extracts suppressed the release of beta-glucuronidase, a lysosomal enzyme in rat neutrophils. It was also noted that the prickly pear extracts showed the protective effect on gastric mucosal layers. From the results it is suggested that the cactus extracts contain anti-inflammatory action having protective effect against gastric

Cactus Pads Research
Oxalate reduces calcium availability in the pads of the prickly pear cactus through formation of calcium oxalate crystals.
USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Mar 10;52(5):1371-4.
The pads (nopales) of the prickly pear cactus are considered to be a good source of minerals and other nutrients on the basis of compositional analysis. In this study, this analysis is taken a step further by assessing the availability of selected minerals in nopales using an in vitro digestion and dialysis method. The results obtained suggest that although nopales are enriched in a number of minerals, their tissue calcium is not freely available. Microscopic analysis, energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis, and oxalate measurements suggest that this reduction in available calcium is a result of its sequestration in the form of calcium oxalate crystals. The issue of mineral availability in plant foods is important when the dependence of many populations around the world on plant foods as their main source of minerals and other nutrients is considered.

Cactus Prickly Pear emails
Q. Dr. Sahelian, do you know of any studies regarding consumption of the pads (not fruit) in cooked food, or fresh pads juiced and mixed 50/50 with orange juice, as far as the benefits to health?  I read your article on prickly pear fruits.  I grow prickly pear for food, and eat of it 2-4 times a week. We use the pads mostly, as is typical in Mexico. We eat the fruits as well, but, of course, the fruits are less plentiful than the pads, and are not on the plant all year like the pads are. Do the pads carry the same benefits as the fruits?  Are there any safety concerns on eating of the pads frequently?
A. I could only find one study regarding cactus pads. It appears that they are a good source of minerals and I would suspect the pads would have antioxidants and flavonoids. However, the calcium seems to be in a form difficult to be biologically available. My thoughts would be that cactus pads, just like many vegetables or fruits, would be healthy to eat as long as its not done in excess.
        By the way, I love the prickly pear fruits and August/September are the months when they are available in stores in Los Angeles. I buy 2 or 3 dozen at a time and can eat a full dozen at one sitting. Along with watermelon, figs, and mangos, I would say the prickly pear fruit is in my top 5 list of favorite fruits.