Cactaceae Indian fig; nopal; paddle cactus; tuna Cladode The genus is rich in fibre and also in polysaccharides, especially the younger cladodes. A mucilage constituting up to 14% of the cladode dry weight is produced, especially by younger cladodes and also by the fruits, and consists of chains of (14)-linked β-D-galacturonic acid and R(1-2)-linked L-rhamnose residues (Stinzing and Carle 2005). Overall, some – so far still limited – evidence points to the potential of a chemically well characterised extract in the management of pre-diabetic conditions and in glucose management. Initial studies in Mexico showed encouraging hypoglycaemic effects in human diabetic and normal subjects (Frati-Munari et al. 1991; Frati-Munari et al. 1988). More recently, a small (verum—n = 15, placebo—n = 14) double-blind, placebo-controlled study used 200 mg of a chemically characterised extract over a 16-week period. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was also included, with a 400 mg dose of an O. ficus-indica preparation given 30 min before orally ingesting a 75 g glucose drink. The authors demonstrated acute blood-glucose-lowering effects and the long-term safety of the proprietary product used (Godard et al. 2010). An O. ficus-indica
Prickly Pear
Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill., O. streptacantha Lem., and related species
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