Cytoprotective Effects of Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract

Background: Hundreds of previous studies have suggested the beneficial effects of nopal extract on human body. We investigated here whether nopal extract shows cytoprotective activity against viral infection, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and chemotherapeutic drug treatment used in the dentistry. Materials and methods: The water and ethanol extract of Opuntia f icus-indica (WEO and EEO, respectively) were prepared. The viability of the mock-infected, HIV-infected, UV-irradiated, drugtreated cells without or with the extract was determined by MTT method. Radical scavenging activity was determined colorimetrically and by ESR spectroscopy. Results: Both extracts did not show anti-HIV activity, but protected the cells from cell injury induced by UV-irradiation, possibly due to the slight inhibition of caspase-3 activation. WEO dose-dependently scavenged the superoxide anion, hydroxyl and DPPH radicals. WEO also significantly inhibited cytotoxicity of methotrexate, doxorubicin and 5-FU. Conclusion. The present study suggests that the cytoprotective activity of nopal extracts against UV and anti-tumor agents may be partly due to its radical scavenging activity.