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Cactus: Chemical, nutraceutical composition and potential bio‐pharmacological properties
Author(s) -
Das Gitishree,
Lim Kyung Jik,
Tantengco Ourlad Alzeus G.,
Carag Harold M.,
Gonçalves Sandra,
Romano Anabela,
Das Swagat Kumar,
CoyBarrera Ericsson,
Shin HanSeung,
GutiérrezGrijalva Erick Paul,
Heredia J. Basilio,
Patra Jayanta Kumar
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.6889
Subject(s) - cactus , nutraceutical , endangered species , biology , mucilage , cladodes , habitat , ecology , biochemistry
Cactus species are plants that grow in the arid and semiarid regions of the world. They have long fascinated the attention of the scientific community due to their unusual biology. Cactus species are used for a variety of purposes, such as food, fodder, ornamental, and as medicinal plants. In the last regard, they have been used in traditional medicine for eras by the ancient people to cure several diseases. Recent scientific investigations suggest that cactus materials may be used as a source of naturally‐occurring products, such as mucilage, fiber, pigments, and antioxidants. For this reason, numerous species under this family are becoming endangered and extinct. This review provides an overview of the habitat, classification, phytochemistry, chemical constituents, extraction and isolation of bioactive compounds, nutritional and pharmacological potential with pre‐clinical and clinical studies of different Cactus species. Furthermore, conservation strategies for the ornamental and endangered species have also been discussed.