Cactus Pear Fruit Extract Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Carrageenin-Induced Rat Pleurisy

摘要

Nutritional research has recently shifted from alleviating nutrient deficiencies to chronic disease prevention. In this study activity of cactus pear fruit extract (CPFE) from Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill, has been investigated in carrageenin-induced pleurisy, a rat model of acute inflammation. In our experimental design rat pleurisy was achieved by the injection of 0.2 ml of X-carrageenin in the pleural cavity. At selected time points, rats were sacrificed; cells recruited in pleura were counted and exudates collected to analyse inflammatory parameters such as NO, PGE_2, IL-ip, TNF-a. CPFE (in the range between 5 and 20 g fresh fruit equivalent/kg), orally given 30 min before the injection, time- and dose-dependently reduced the exudate volume (up to 72%) and the number of leukocytes recruited in the pleural cavity (up to 96%), at 24 h. These anti-inflammatory effects were accompanied by an inhibited release of inflammatory mediators (PGE_2, NO, IL-ip, TNF-a). Our in vivo findings unveil for the first time an anti-inflammatory potential for cactus pear fruit and suggest further investigations to propose cactus pear fruit as a functional food able to improve health, possibly by preventing inflammation-based disorders.