• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.661-667
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• 2014

To investigate the anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects of Opuntia humifusa cladodes, O. humifusa cladodes powder was extracted with 75% ethanol and fractionated with various solvents. Among the extracts fractionated with various solvents, ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities of O. humifusa cladodes were highest ($89.94{\pm}1.15%$ and $29.01{\pm}3.03%$, respectively) in the ethyl acetate fraction. Further, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the ethyl acetate fraction were the highest ($196.02{\pm}5.26$ and $114.00{\pm}10.03{\mu}g/mg$, respectively). DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities increased according to the concentration of O. humifusa cladodes extract, and those of the ethyl acetate fraction were the highest. Ferric reducing antioxidant powers of chloroform and the ethyl acetate fraction were higher than those of other fractions. Overall, the ethyl acetate fraction of O. humifusa cladodes showed the highest anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects. Results indicate that O. humifusa cladodes powder has potential as a useful ingredient with anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2014

The taxonomic status of a new forma, Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. f. jeollaensis E. J. Kim & S. S. Whang, and the taxonomic relationships of three Korean cladodes were studied based on DNA sequences of three genes. The new forma O. humifusa f. jeollaensis (Wanggasi-Chunnyuncho) is simlilar to O. humifusa (Chunnyuncho), but differ in having both flower with the reddish inner center, and strong and many 3 cm long spines. Molecular studies showed that the new forma grouped into Macrocentra series instead of Humifusa series which included Korean O. humifusa. We designated the new taxa firstly studied here as a new forma, because the taxa have been mainly cultivated in farmlands in Jeolla-do area rather than distributed in nature. The taxonomic relationships of three Korean cladodes are discussed in detail.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.200-205
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• 2016

The aim of this work was to select suitable fermentation treatments for the efficient bioconversion of cactus (Opuntia humifusa Raf.) bioactive components with an improved radical scavenging activity for use as a nutraceutical. To obtain microorganisms for the microbial conversion of cactus, Leuconostoc mesenteroides ATCC8294, Lactobacillus plantarum KCTC 3099, Lactobacillus plantarum KERI 236 and Monascus pilosus KCCM 60029 (ATCC 22080) were used for fermentation. Fermentation by Lac. plantarum KCTC 3099 was the most effective at scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals and reducing iron (III). In particular, uronic acid levels showed a remarkable increase in fermentation. The polyphenol and quercetin content of the fermented cactus showed large increases from $108.65{\mu}g/mL$ and $2.71{\mu}g/mL$ to $227.83{\mu}g/mL$ and $9.73{\mu}g/mL$, respectively, showing a maximum level at 36 h of fermentation with Lac. plantarum KCTC 3099. Thus, cactus fermentation with Lac. plantarum is an useful process for the enhancement of antioxidant contents and activity of fresh cactus.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2006

Opuntia humifusa is a member of the Cactaceae family. In the present study, the antioxidant, nitric oxide(NO) inhibitory activities and potential irritation response of the fermented Opuntia humifusa cladodes(FOH) were investigated for cosmetic use. Antioxidant activities were tested using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and xanthine oxidase assay, we found that FOH could scavenge DPPH free radicals and inhibit xanthine oxidase activity in a dose dependent manner, with $IC_{50}$ of 2599.46${\mu}g/ml$ and 721.38${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. To investigate the possible anti-inflammatory effects of FOH, RAW 264.7 macrophages were pretreated with FOH($0{\sim}400{\mu}g/ml$) for 30 min and then treated with LPS for 24 h. We found that cell number did not vary significantly with the treatment of FOH, and FOH did not show any inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO production. After application of FOH to rabbits for skin and eye irritation test, the experimental sites did not show any response compared to the control. FOH were considered to be a non-irritant to the skin and eye. Based on the above information, we suggest that FOH can be considered to be a non-irritant base cosmetic material for safely use.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2012

Biological activities of the hot water and ethanol extracts from Opuntia humifusa cladodes were investigated. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hadrazyl (DPPH) electron donating ability of hot water and ethanol extracts was 79.07 and 82.54%, respectively. Hot water extract generally showed better cytotoxic activity than ethanol extract against each cell line. HeLa and AGS cell lines treated with hot water extract had more than 50% cytotoxic activities. Based on the antimicrobial activities against four microbial strains, both extracts inhibited growth of Staphylococcus aureus KCCM 11593, whereas affected cell growth of three other microorganisms, Escherichia coli (KCCM 11234), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 11862), in proportion to the concentration of extracts. The inflammatory activities against hot water extract (34.31%) showed higher than that of ethanol extract (25.59%). The effect of extracts on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiation showed that differentiation of treated group with 80 and 100 ${\mu}g/mL$ of hot and ethanol extracts were increased more than treated group with isobutyl methyl xanthine (IBMX) + dexamethasone. These results indicate that the O. humifusa cladodes extracts can be used as a functional material due to their effective biological activities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.1271-1278
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• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the food components of the fruit, cladodes, and flowers of freezedried Cheonnyuncho harvested from Yeosu, Jeonnam in Korea. The major components of freeze-dried Cheonnyuncho in proximate composition were carbohydrates and crude ash. Ca, K, and Mg were the predominant minerals in Cheonnyuncho. Calcium content was higher in the fruit and cladodes than in the flowers. Two major amino acids, glutamic acid and aspartic acid, made up over 25% of the total amino acids in Cheonnyuncho. Palmitic acid and stearic acid were most abundant out of all the saturated fatty acids in Cheonnyuncho. The saturated fatty acid content of the fruit was higher than that of the flowers and cladodes. The major unsaturated fatty acid of Cheonnyuncho was oleic acid. The cladodes contained unusually high amounts of linoleic acid compared to the fruit and flowers. The major free sugar in the fruit was sucrose, whereas that of the cladodes and flowers was fructose. The total free sugar content was the highest in fruit, followed by cladodes. The most abundant organic acid in the fruits and cladodes was malic acid, while that of the flowers was citric acid. Vitamin A concentration was highest in the flowers whereas vitamin C concentration was highest in the fruit.