As Traditional Herbalists we were blessed with the integrity and teachings of Michael Moore. Michael's death in February of 2009 left us with his well documented teachings. Most can be accessed through his many volumes of texts and at his website; http://www.swsbm.com/.
Thank you Michael.
This little family of Prickly Pear grows in my front yard next to the street. A basic rule of thumb in wildcrafting, foraging, and gathering is to not use plant materials that grow within 100 ft., I often suggest 100 yds. of transportation routes. There are too many toxins present for safe plant material. When gathering feel the blessings of the plant and ask them to allow you to gather. We do not take more than 25% of a plant population to insure their procreation. Ask the property owner for permission to gather. It is illegal to gather on State and Federal lands. The pads, or tuna in Spanish, and the red pears are an edible. They are popular in traditional cuisines, tasting similar to string beans. The pads are slimy like okra.
Below are Michael Moore's documentation of Opuntia Spp.
found on the website of Michael Moore's Southwest School of Botanical Medicine http://www.swsbm.com/Abstracts/Opuntia-AB.txt
€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE***** MECKES-LOZOYA M IBANEZ-CAMACHO R HYPOGLUCAEMIC ACTIVITY OF OPUNTIA STREPTACANTHA THROUGHOUT ITS ANNUAL CYCLE. In: Am J Chin Med (1989) 17(3-4):221-4 ISSN: 0192-415X Opuntia sp. used in mexican traditional medicine diminishes blood sugar levels when orally administered. Possible seasonal variations in the hypoglycaemic property of Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire, were studied using the fresh sap of its stems collected throughout the year. The evaluation was performed in the already proven sensitive experimental model in normal rabbits. No seasonal variation in the hypoglycaemic activity of this plant product was detected suggesting it can be used year round for the treatment of Diabetes mellitus. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ MECKES-LOZYOA M ROMAN-RAMOS R OPUNTIA STREPTACANTHA: A COADJUTOR IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS. In: Am J Chin Med (1986) 14(3-4):116-8 ISSN: 0192-415X This report describes the effect produced by the complementary daily administration of Opuntia streptacantha sap to a diabetic volunteer being under treatment with chlorpropamide. The plant product improved remarkably the general symptomatology of the patient as well as his insulin and glucose blood levels. Registry Numbers: 11061-68-0 (Insulin) 94-20-2 (Chlorpropamide) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****ARCHIVOS DE INVESTIGACION MEDICA***** Frati-Munari AC Licona-Quesada R Araiza-Andraca CR Lopez-Ledesma R Chavez-Negrete A [Activity of Opuntia streptacantha in healthy individuals with induced hyperglycemia] Accion de Opuntia streptacantha en individuos sanos con hiperglucemia inducida. In: Arch Invest Med (Mex) (1990 Apr-Jun) 21(2):99-102 ISSN: 0066-6769 (Published in Spanish) Hypoglycemia effect Opuntia streptacantha which occur in diabetic has not been found in healthy subjects. To find out if this effect appears also in healthy individuals if they are hyperglycemic, two tests were performed to 7 healthy volunteers. In both tests 500 ml of 20% dextrose were infused in two hours, 500 g of O. streptacantha were given orally before one test, and 400 ml of water as control were given before the other one. Serum glucose was measured every 30 minutes during three hours. Glucose rising was significantly (P less than 0.025) lower with Opuntia than in control test at 90 and 120 minutes (143 +/- 58 vs 193 +/- 9 and 135 +/- 25 vs 163 +/- 13 mg/dl respectively). Area under curve of glucose was also smaller in Opuntia than in control test (P less than 0.05). Hypoglycemic effect of O. streptacantha also occur in healthy subjects in hyperglycemia is present. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ FRATI-MUNARI AC ALTAMIRANO-BUSTAMANTE E RODRIGUEZ-BARCENAS N ARIZA-ANDRACA R LOPEZ-LEDESMA R [HYPOGLYCEMIC ACTION OF OPUNTIA STREPTACANTHA LEMAIRE: STUDY USING RAW EXTRACTS] Accion hipoglucemiante de Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire: investigacion con extractos crudos. In: Arch Invest Med (Mex) (1989 Oct-Dec) 20(4):321-5 ISSN: 0066-6769 (Published in Spanish) To find out the extent of the hypoglycemic effect of crude extracts of Opuntia streptacantha eight patients with type II diabetes mellitus were studied. Five tests were performed to each patients with the intake of (A) supernatant, (B) precipitate, (C) complete homogenate of 500 g of crude O. streptacantha stem (D) 400 ml of water, and (E) 500 g of broiled Opuntia stems. Serum glucose levels were measured at 0,30,60,120 and 180 minutes. Crude extracts did not cause a significant decrease of glycemia, and the results were similar to the water control test (P greater than 0.05). The intake of broiled Opuntia stems caused a significant decrease of serum glucose level, that reached 48.3 +/- 16.2 mg/dl lower than basal values at 180 minutes (P less than 0.01). Perhaps heating of O. streptacantha is necessary to obtain the hypoglycemic effect. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ FRATI-MUNARI AC RIOS GIL U ARIZA-ANDRACA CR ISLAS ANDRADE S LOPEZ LEDESMA R [DURATION OF THE HYPOGLYCEMIC ACTION OF OPUNTIA STREPTACANTHA LEM.] Duracion de la accion hipoglucemiante de Opuntia streptacantha Lem. In: Arch Invest Med (Mex) (1989 Oct-Dec) 20(4):297-300 ISSN: 0066-6769 (Published in Spanish) To assess the duration of Opuntia streptacantha Lem. hypoglycemic effect, two tests in fasting conditions, one with the intake of 500 g of broiled Opuntia stems and the other one with 400 ml of water as control, were performed in eight type II diabetics. Serum glucose levels were measured hourly during six hours. In the Opuntia test the decrease of serum glucose levels was more pronounced at the fourth hour (P less than 0.01 vs control test), serum glucose levels remained unchanged the following two hours. No significant changes on glycemia occurred in the control test. Difference between both tests was significant from the second to the sixth hour. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ IBANEZ-CAMACHO R ROMAN-RAMOS R HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECT OF OPUNTIA CACTUS. In: Arch Invest Med (Mex) (1979) 10(4):223-30 ISSN: 0066-6769 (Published in English and Spanish) Nopal (Opuntia sp.) has been traditionally used by the Mexican population for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this work is to describe effects produced by directly liquified nopal and extracts from this plant in healthy and pancreatectomized rabbits. Preliminary results allow us to conclude that Opuntia streptacantha, Lemaire, has hypoglycemic properties when orally administered, in animals with experimentally induced diabetes as well as in healthy ones with physiologic hyperglycemia. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ FRATI-MUNARI AC DE LEON C ARIZA-ANDRACA R BANALES-HAM MB LOPEZ-LEDESMA R LOZOYA X [EFFECT OF A DEHYDRATED EXTRACT OF NOPAL (OPUNTIA FICUS INDICA MILL.) ON BLOOD GLUCOSE] Influencia de un extracto deshidratado de nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica mill.) en la glucemia. In: Arch Invest Med (Mex) (1989 Jul-Sep) 20(3):211-6 ISSN: 0066-6769 (Published in Spanish) To assess if a dehydrated extract of nopal stems retains the effect on glycemia of the entire nopal stems two experiments were performed. A. Six patients with type II diabetes mellitus in fasting condition received 30 capsules containing 10.1 +/- 0.3 g of the extract, and serum glucose levels were measured hourly from 0 to 180 minutes. B. Six healthy volunteers received 30 capsules with the extract followed by 74 g of dextrose orally. Serum glucose measurements were made in a similar fashion. In each experiment a control test with empty capsules was performed. Nopal extract did not reduce fasting glycemia in diabetic subjects. Nevertheless, the extract diminished the increase of serum glucose which followed a dextrose load. Peak serum glucose was 20.3 +/- 18.2 mg/dl (X +/- SD) lower in the test with nopal than in the control one (P less than 0.025). Dehydrated extract of nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill) did not show acute hypoglycemic effect, although could attenuate postprandial hyperglycemia. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ FRATI-MUNARI AC DEL VALLE-MARTINEZ LM ARIZA-ANDRACA CR ISLAS-ANDRADE S CHAVEZ-NEGRETE A [HYPOGLYCEMIC ACTION OF DIFFERENT DOSES OF NOPAL (OPUNTIA STREPTACANTHA LEMAIRE) IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE II DIABETES MELLITUS] Accion hipoglucemiante de diferentes dosis de nopal (Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire) en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo II. In: Arch Invest Med (Mex) (1989 Apr-Jun) 20(2):197-201 ISSN: 0066-6769 (Published in Spanish) To assess the relationship between the doses of O. streptacantha Lem. and its acute hypoglycemic action in diabetics, eight patients with type II diabetes mellitus were studied. Four test were performed to each patient with the intake of: (a) 400 ml of water, (b) 100 g (c) 300 g and (d) 500 g of broiled stems of O. streptacantha Lem. Serum glucose was measured at 0, 60, 120 and 180 minutes. Maximal decrease of serum glucose was noticed at 180 minutes, with a mean of 2.3, 10, 30.1 and 46.7 mg/dl less than basal value with 0, 100, 300 and 500 g respectively (P = NS, less than 0.05, less than 0.001 and less than 0.001 respectively). A significant direct correlation (r = 0.690, P less than 0.001) was noticed between the doses and the hypoglycemic effect. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ FRATI AC XILOTL DIAZ N ALTAMIRANO P ARIZA R LOPEZ-LEDESMA R THE EFFECT OF TWO SEQUENTIAL DOSES OF OPUNTIA STREPTACANTHA UPON GLYCEMIA. In: Arch Invest Med (Mex) (1991 Jul-Dec) 22(3-4):333-6 ISSN: 0066-6769 To find out if a second dose of O. streptacantha may enhance its hypoglycemic effect, three tests were performed in fasting condition to 8 type II diabetic subjects and 6 healthy individuals. The tests were as follows: A. 500 g of broiled stems of O. streptacantha were given orally initially and two hours later. B. Only the initial dose. C. Control test with water. Serum glucose and C peptide were measured every two hours from 0 to 6 hours. In diabetic patients a significant (P < 0.01 vs control) decrease of serum glucose reaching from 41 to 46% less than initial value, was noticed in tests A and B, without differences between them. C peptide did not change. In healthy subjects serum glucose and C peptide did not significantly differ between tests. A second dose of O. streptacantha, two hours after the first one, did not improve its hypoglycemic activity. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****DIABETES CARE***** FRATI-MUNARI AC GORDILLO BE ALTAMIRANO P ARIZA CR HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECT OF OPUNTIA STREPTACANTHA LEMAIRE IN NIDDM. In: Diabetes Care (1988 Jan) 11(1):63-6 ISSN: 0149-5992 To assess the hypoglycemic effect of the nopal Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire (O. streptacantha Lem.), three groups of patients with non- insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) were studied. Group one (16 patients) ingested 500 g of broiled nopal stems. Group 2 (10 patients) received only 400 ml of water as a control test. Three tests were performed on group 3 (6 patients): one with nopal, a second with water, and a third with ingestion of 500 g broiled squash. Serum glucose and insulin levels were measured at 0, 60, 120, and 180 min. After the intake of O. streptacantha Lem., serum glucose and serum insulin levels decreased significantly in groups 1 and 3, whereas no similar changes were noticed in group 2. The mean reduction of glucose reached 17.6 +/- 2.2% of basal values at 180 min in group 1 and 16.2 +/- 1.8% in group 3; the reduction of serum insulin at 180 min reached 50.2 +/- 8.0% in group 1 and 40.3 +/- 12.4% in group 3. This study shows that the stems of O. streptacantha Lem. cause a hypoglycemic effect in patients with NIDDM. The mechanism of this effect is unknown, but an increased insulin sensitivity is suggested. Registry Numbers: 11061-68-0 (Insulin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY***** IBANEZ-CAMACHO R MECKES-LOZOYA M MELLADO-CAMPOS V THE HYPOGLUCEMIC EFFECT OF OPUNTIA STREPTACANTHA STUDIED IN DIFFERENT ANIMAL EXPERIMENTAL MODELS. In: J Ethnopharmacol (1983 Mar) 7(2):175-81 ISSN: 0378-8741 Studies performed with Opuntia streptacantha sap in three different animal species using several experimental conditions are described. The Opuntia sap induced hypoglucemic effects when orally administered to intact animals under induced states of moderate increase of blood sugar. In normoglucemic and pancreatectomized animals the effect of the product was not detected. The results validate the popular use of this plant for treatment of Diabetes mellitus symptomatology. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC BACTERIOLOGY***** PHAFF HJ STARMER WT LACHANCE MA GANTER PF CANDIDA CASEINOLYTICA SP. NOV., A NEW SPECIES OF YEAST OCCURRING IN NECROTIC TISSUE OF OPUNTIA AND STENOCEREUS SPECIES IN THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES AND BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO. In: Int J Syst Bacteriol (1994 Oct) 44(4):641-5 ISSN: 0020-7713 We describe Candida caseinolytica, a new yeast species which occurs in rotting tissues of opuntias and other cacti in the North American Sonoran Desert and a few other localities. This small-celled, slowly growing yeast does not ferment any sugar and assimilates a limited number of carbon compounds, including 2- and 5-ketogluconic acids. It exhibits strong extracellular proteolytic activity on casein at pH 6.5, but gelatin is not hydrolyzed or is only weakly hydrolyzed by a few strains. The type strain of C. caseinolytica is strain UCD-FST 83- 438.3 (= ATCC 90546 = CBS 7781). €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF NUTRITION***** FERNANDEZ ML TREJO A MCNAMARA DJ PECTIN ISOLATED FROM PRICKLY PEAR (OPUNTIA SP.) MODIFIES LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN METABOLISM IN CHOLESTEROL-FED GUINEA PIGS. In: J Nutr (1990 Nov) 120(11):1283-90 ISSN: 0022-3166 The effect of prickly pear soluble fiber on low density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism was investigated by feeding male guinea pigs either a nonpurified diet containing 0.25% cholesterol (HC diet) or the HC diet + 1% prickly pear pectin (HC-P diet). Plasma cholesterol levels were significantly decreased by the HC-P diet, with a 33% decrease in LDL levels (p less than 0.02) and an increase in LDL density. Hepatic free and esterified cholesterol levels were reduced 40 and 85%, respectively (p less than 0.002), by the HC-P diet. Hepatic microsomal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase levels were not different. 125I-LDL binding to hepatic membranes was increased 1.7-fold by the HC-P diet (p less than 0.001), with receptor affinity (Kd) being unaltered and receptor number (Bmax) being significantly increased (p less than 0.001). These data suggest that prickly pear pectin may act by a mechanism similar to that of bile acid-binding resins in lowering plasma cholesterol levels. The observed reduction in LDL and hepatic cholesterol levels and increase in LDL density and hepatic apolipoprotein B/E receptors are responses suggesting an increased demand on hepatic cholesterol from increased excretion of bile acids and interruption of the enterohepatic circulation. Registry Numbers: EC 1.1.1.88 (Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases) 57-88-5 (Cholesterol) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ FERNANDEZ ML LIN EC TREJO A MCNAMARA DJ PRICKLY PEAR (OPUNTIA SP.) PECTIN ALTERS HEPATIC CHOLESTEROL METABOLISM WITHOUT AFFECTING CHOLESTEROL ABSORPTION IN GUINEA PIGS FED A HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC DIET. In: J Nutr (1994 Jun) 124(6):817-24 ISSN: 0022-3166 Prickly pear pectin intake decreases plasma LDL concentrations by increasing hepatic apolipoprotein B/E receptor expression in guinea pigs fed a hypercholesterolemic diet. To investigate whether prickly pear pectin has an effect on cholesterol absorption and on enzymes responsible for hepatic cholesterol homeostasis, guinea pigs were fed one of three semipurified diets, each containing 15 g lard/100 g diet: 1) the lard-basal diet with no added cholesterol or prickly pear pectin (LB diet); 2) the LB diet with 0.25 g added cholesterol/100 g diet (LC diet); or 3) the LC diet containing 2.5 g prickly pear pectin/100 g diet, added at the expense of cellulose (LC- P diet). Animals fed the LB diet had the lowest plasma LDL and hepatic cholesterol concentrations, followed by animals fed the LC-P diet (P < 0.001). Hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activity was highest in the group fed the LB diet, with similar values for animals in the other two groups. A positive correlation existed between plasma LDL cholesterol concentration and hepatic acyl CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity (r = 0.87, P < 0.001). Cholesterol absorption was not different among the three dietary groups. These results indicate that the decreased plasma and hepatic cholesterol concentrations of animals fed prickly pear pectin are not explained by differences in cholesterol absorption but rather are due to mechanisms that alter hepatic cholesterol homeostasis, resulting in lower plasma LDL concentrations. Registry Numbers: EC 1.1.1.88 (Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases) EC 2.3.1.26 (Cholesterol Acyltransferase) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ FERNANDEZ ML LIN EC TREJO A MCNAMARA DJ PRICKLY PEAR (OPUNTIA SP.) PECTIN REVERSES LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN RECEPTOR SUPPRESSION INDUCED BY A HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC DIET IN GUINEA PIGS. In: J Nutr (1992 Dec) 122(12):2330-40 ISSN: 0022-3166 The effects of prickly pear pectin on plasma LDL metabolism were investigated by feeding guinea pigs either a diet containing 15 g/100 g lard and 0.25 g/100 g cholesterol (LC diet) or the LC diet in which cellulose was partially replaced (2.5 g/100 g) by prickly pear pectin (LC-P diet). The LC-P diet lowered plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations by 33% (P < 0.001). Low density lipoprotein composition was modified by intake of prickly pear pectin; the relative percentages of free and esterified cholesterol were lower and triglycerides were higher in LDL from animals fed the LC-P diet (P < 0.05). Intake of prickly pear pectin did not affect hepatic 3- hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity; however, hepatic free and esterified cholesterol concentrations were lowered by 46 and 64%, respectively. Hepatic apolipoprotein B/E receptor expression (Bmax) was 60% higher in animals fed the LC-P diet (P < 0.01). Similar to the in vitro data, receptor-mediated LDL fractional catabolic rates were 190% higher in animals fed the LC-P diet (P < 0.05), whereas apolipoprotein LDL flux rates were not affected. Apolipoprotein LDL pool size and fractional catabolic rates exhibited a significant correlation (r = -0.52, P < 0.01). These data indicate that an increase in apolipoprotein B/E receptor expression is a major metabolic response by which intake of prickly pear pectin decreases plasma LDL concentrations. Registry Numbers: EC 1.1.1.88 (Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases) 57-88-5 (Cholesterol) 9000-69-5 (pectin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€
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