A meta-analysis of the studies on cactus and cancer was published in Planta Medica in 2013 reports …
Plants of the Cactaceae family are mostly desert and semidesert habitants, which, owing to harsh environmental stress conditions have developed highly effective defense systems, allowing them to successfully cope with the environment. These defense systems are made of phytochemicals shown to exhibit remarkable bioactivities against human diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Cactus cladodes [pads] possess antioxidant properties, marking them a potential source for anticancer and cancer preventive drugs. Cactus-derived components can be easily used as dietary supplements in normal and high-risk populations for cancer. The antiproliferative efficacy of O. ficus-indica was tested against a widespread environmental genotoxin classified as probably carcinogenic to humans. The aim of the study was to investigate the in vivo protective effect of an extract obtained from O. ficus-indica cladode using mice. The extract exhibited total reduction of oxidative damage for all tested markers. It caused apoptosis via modulating the apoptotic pathway. The cladode extract induced total reduction of genotoxicity in mice. The same extract has been shown to be beneficial in reversing kidney dysfunction in mice through its antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities.
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