• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.485-490
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the hypocholesterol effects of Opuntia humifusa extract in hypercholesterolemic rats. Rats (8-week-old, male) were randomly divided into four groups (n=4) as follows: N-control, normal diet; H-control, hypercholesterolemic diet; OH-1, 2% O. humifusa extract-supplemented hypercholesterolemic diet; OH-2, 4% O. humifusa extract-supplemented hypercholesterolemic diet. After 4 weeks, we observed that hypercholesterolemia induced significant increases in serum lipids (total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol), hepatic lipids (total cholesterol and triglyceride), and hepatic function parameters (ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase) (P<0.05). Treatment with O. humifusa extract for 2 weeks normalized these indexes up to the levels of normal rats. O. humifusa extract tended to increase fecal lipid (H-control: 142.74 mg/day vs. OH-1: 214.05 mg/day; OH-2: 200.95 mg/day, P<0.05) and bile acid (H-control: 37.07 ${\mu}M/day$ vs. OH-1: 47.23 ${\mu}M/day$, OH-2: 47.93 ${\mu}M/day$, P<0.05) contents of hypercholesterolemic rats. We concluded that oral administration of O. humifusa extract effectively improved cholesterol metabolism in a hypercholesterolemic animal model induced by hypercholesterol diet.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1679-1684
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• 2009

Opuntia humifusa, widely distributed in the southern regions of the Korean peninsula, is known to have bioactive functions and medicinal benefits for treating various diseases such as arteriosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, gastritis, and hyperglycemia. In this study total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of fruit and its anticarcinogenic effects on human breast cancer were investigated. As expected, O. humifusa showed high concentrations of total polyphenol as well as flavonoid as compared to other kinds of cactus. Effects of the water extracts of O. humifusa on the proliferation, G1 arrest and apoptosis of the MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were also examined using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays, and G1 cycle arrest and apoptotic effect of O. humifusa were analyzed by flow cytometry. When MCF-7 cells were treated with different concentrations of hexane, ethyl acetate and water extracts of O. humifusa, water extracts of the fruit significantly decreased viable cell numbers in a concentration dependent manner. A G1 arrest in MCF-7 cells was induced as well. The overall results indicate that water extracts of fruit of O. humifusa would inhibit MCF-7 human breast cancer cell proliferation and induce G1 arrest.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.485-491
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• 2009

In order to examine the nutritional value of prickly pear(Opuntia humifusa), contents of ash, protein, fat, minerals and vitamins were determined on freeze-dried stem, fruit, seed and root from plants harvested in autumn. The average moisture contents for stem, fruit, seed and root were 67~87%. Crude ash content determined on dry weight basis was 2~3%. Crude protein existed mostly in seed(2.95%) and root(2.37%). Crude fat was detected mainly in seed(4.49%). Contents of major minerals(mg/100 mg dry weight) was generally higher in stem. Ca in stem(4,142.30) and fruit(2,790.86) were much higher than in seed(43.37). P in stem, seed and fruit were 448.19, 263.20 and 161.59, respectively. Stem also displayed more abundant Mg(1,110.86), Zn(35.62) and Mn(37.07). However, fruit contained higher amounts of Fe(13.38) and Se(0.15). Vitamin A was negligible in all plant parts. Vitamin E contents in fruit and stem were 1.78 mg and 1.22 mg/mg dry weight, respectively. Vitamin C was detected mostly in fruit(445.40) and stem(260.94). Use of a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide-based microtiter assay of cell viability demonstrated an anti-proliferative effect of O. humifusa extract on the MCF-7 estrogen-dependent human breast cancer cell line.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2016

Purpose: A water-spraying type automatic glochids removal system for cactus (Opuntia humifusa) stem was developed, and its performance was evaluated. The system was developed to reduce intensive human labor in removing glochids from cactus stem skin without inducing damage prior to further processing into value-added products. Methods: The developed system consists of conveyor and water-spraying systems. The conveyor system delivers cactus stems through water-spraying compartments and finally to a collecting box. In order to remove the glochids, rotating nozzles spray water over all areas (i.e., front and back faces and sides) of the cactus skin under controlled water pressure. Operating conditions such as conveyor speed, water pressure, angle of water-spraying nozzles, distance between conveyor belt and rotating nozzles, and angle of cactus flipping slide were adopted from our previous study and applied on the system design and manufacturing. The performance of glochids removal was evaluated by counting the number of glochids on the cactus stem before and after processing on the system. Results: The developed system performed efficiently and effectively under the pre-studied operating conditions except for the angle of cactus flipping slide. The new system had a glochids removal ratio of 94.1% without damaging the cactus skin. Considering the original number (approximately 30-60) of glochids, the remaining number was low (1-4), and most of them were found at the side edge of the cactus stem. This system can remove glochids from 360 cactus stems in 1 hr regardless of cactus size. Conclusions: The performance of the new system in glochids removal without damaging cactus skin is superior to any other existing device (i.e., brush type, rubber-friction type, and agitation type). The system is expected to be applied in cactus (O. humifusa) processing facilities.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.299-306
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• 2010

This study was performed to develop new functional red ginseng drinks with Astragali Radix and Opuntia humifusa. Optimum extraction conditions such as solvent property and temperature for Astragali Radix were determined by distilled water vs. ethanol (95%) ratio (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25) and 60 vs. $80^{\circ}C$. Water-soluble extracts at $80^{\circ}C$ showed higher antioxidant activities than fat-soluble extracts at $60^{\circ}C$. Viscosities of 1-2% (w/v) of Opuntia humifusa solution were similar to that of the 0.1% guar gum solution. Addtion of Astragali Radix (3% and 5%, w/v) and Opuntia humifusa (1.2%, w/v), especially, had effect on the changes of pH of the red ginseng solution(5%, w/v) during storage for 7 days. A significant difference during the storage was shown in total plate counts by addition of Opuntia humifusa (1.2%, w/v) and microorganisms were reduced by six log cycles. Significant antiproliferation effects of red ginseng (5%, w/v) solution with Astragali Radix (3% & 5%, w/v) and Opuntia humifusa (1.2%, w/v) on Colon26m-3.1 carcinoma (colorectal carcinoma) cell and U87-MG neuronale glioblastoma (brain carcinoma) cell were not observed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2012

To examine the new practical utilization of mucilages in Opuntia humifusa, the Korean pear cactus, the polysaccharides were isolated from O. humifusa, and immuno-stimulating activities were assayed. The main polysaccharide, CNC-E, was prepared by a commercial enzyme treatment, water extraction, and ethanol precipitation. The molecular mass of CNC-E was estimated to be about 700 kDa, and it consisted mainly of arabinose, galactose and xylose in addition to two minor sugars such as rhamnose and fucose. On the other hand, CNC-E showed considerably high splenocyte proliferation activity in a dose-dependent manner. Peritoneal macrophages stimulated with CNC-E produced cytokines such as IL-6, IL-12, IL-10, and TNF-${\alpha}$. The intravenous administration of CNC-E significantly augmented the cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells against Yac-1 tumor cells. Especially, NK cells obtained from the mice treated with $100{\mu}g$ of CNC-E showed threefold higher cytolytic activity than those of untreated mice. CNC-E also showed potent anti-complementary activity in a dose-dependent fashion. Identification of C3 activation products by the crossed immunoelectrophoresis using anti-human C3 and the anti-complementary activity of CNC-E in a $Ca^{2+}$-free condition suggested complement activations by CNC-E that occur via both alternative and classical pathways. These results indicate that Korean pear cactus contains selected polysaccharides that provide immuno-stimulating activities beneficial to human health.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.12-16
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the quality characteristics of soybean curd prepared with Opuntia ficus-indica fruit, freeze-dried Opuntia ficus-indica fruit powder, or heat-dried Opuntia ficus-indica fruit powder, without addition of a coagulant. The yield rates of the soybean curd were slightly decreased for the three curds containing Opuntia ficus-indica fruit; this was accompanied by a significant decrease in pH. Furthermore, the hardness and springiness of soybean curds coagulated with added freeze-dried Opuntia ficus-indica fruit powder or heat-dried Opuntia ficus-indica fruit powder were higher than the hardness and springiness of the coagulated controls. However, the cohesiveness and brittleness of two soybean curds were lower than for the controls, while the gumminess of the four soybean curds containing control fruit was the same. In terms of overall acceptability, the preferred soybean curd was the curd containing freeze-dried Opuntia ficus-indica fruit powder.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.663-669
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• 2016

This study was conducted to analyze the nutrient compositions of stem and fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten (OF) and Opuntia humifusa (OH). The results of the two-way analysis of variance test indicated that the parts, varieties and parts*varieties had influence on nutrient content except crude protein, soluble dietary fiber, Fe, Se, I, vitamin E, niacin and vitamin C. Moisture and crude ash content was higher in stem than in fruit, while crude lipid and insoluble dietary content was higher in fruit than in stem. Mineral content revealed that K (1,313.67 mg% in OF, 1,351.38 mg% in OH) was the highest in fruit and Ca (5,146.29 mg% in OF, 1,388.19 mg% in OH) was the highest in stem. Vitamin C was the most abundant vitamin in the fruit of OF (199.98 mg%) and OH (187.12 mg%). Polyunsaturated fatty acid was the highest among fatty acids (66.9~70.1%), with higher content in the stem (753.89 mg%) than fruit (578.01 mg%) in OF, while higher in the fruit (1,093.63 mg%) than stem (475.07 mg%) in OH. Moisture, crude protein, Mg, Se and riboflavin was higher in OF than OH; whereas, crude lipid, insoluble dietary fiber, total dietary fiber and monounsaturated fatty acid were higher in OH than OF. These results indicated that OF and OH could be a good food source for Ca, K and Vitamin C. Also, different nutrient content by parts and varieties, can be helpful in choice of parts or varieties for consumer purposes.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2016

Opuntia humifusa (OHF) has been used as a nutraceutical source for the prevention of chronic diseases. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of ethyl acetate extracts of OHF on the proliferation of AGS human gastric cancer cells and the mode of action were investigated. To elucidate the antiproliferative mechanisms of OHF in cancer cells, the expression of genes related to apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were determined with real-time PCR and western blot. The cytotoxic effect of OHF on AGS cells was observed in a dose-dependent manner. Exposure to OHF ($100{\mu}g/mL$) significantly induced (P<0.05) the G1 phase cell cycle arrest. Additionally, the apoptotic cell population was greater (P<0.05) in OHF ($200{\mu}g/mL$) treated AGS cells when compared to the control. The expression of genes associated with cell cycle progression (Cdk4, Cdk2, and cyclin E) was significantly downregulated (P<0.05) by the OHF treatment. Moreover, the expression of Bax and caspase-3 in OHF treated cells was higher (P<0.05) than in the control. These findings suggest that OHF induces the G1 phase cell cycle arrest and activation of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway in AGS human gastric cancer cells.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.474-478
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• 2005

Antioxidative effects of several solvents extracts of cactus Cheonnyuncho (Opuntia humifusa) grown in Korea were investigated. Because 70% ethanol extract showed relatively high antioxidative activity and extraction yield, it was sequentially fractionated with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water, Ethyl acetate fraction showed highest scavenging activity against free radical DPPH. Antioxidative activity of ethyl acetate fraction determined based on acid and peroxide values under accelerated oxidation condition of lard was similar to that of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, but slightly lower than that of BHA. Similar results were observed using TBA method during peroxidation of linoleic acid.