Ploidy has been well studied and used extensively in the genus Opuntia to determine species boundaries, detect evidence of hybridization, and infer evolutionary patterns. We carried out chromosome counts for all members of the Humifusa clade to ascertain whether geographic patterns are associated with differences in ploidy. We then related chromosomal data to observed morphological variability,...

Scott R. Abella* and John F. Jaeger Metroparks of the Toledo Area 5100 W. Central Ave. Toledo, OH 43615 ECOLOGY OF EASTERN PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS (OPUNTIA HUMIFUSA) IN OAK OPENINGS PRESERVE, NORTHWESTERN omo 2004 Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. (eastern prickly pear cactus) has a patchy but wide distribution in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada, ranging from Massachusetts through Wisc...

Asthma is a chronic pulmonary disease that affects an estimated 235 million people worldwide, but asthma drugs have many adverse effects. Opuntia humifusa (eastern prickly pear) has been used as a food and traditional medicine worldwide; however, its anti-asthmatic effects have not been reported. We evaluated O. humifusa as a potential therapeutic or preventive component of anti-asthmatic drugs...

This study examined whether Opuntia humifusa (O. humifusa), which is a member of the Cactaceae family, supplementation and acute swimming exercise affect insulin sensitivity and associations with PPAR-γ and PGC-1α protein expression in rats. Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups (HS: high fat diet sedentary group, n = 8; HE: high fat diet acute exercise group, n = 8; OS: 5% O. ...

Associational susceptibility has been predicted to arise when a target plant’s neighbor is more palatable to an herbivore than the target plant itself, resulting in attraction and spillover of the herbivore onto the target plant. This prediction was tested on two hosts of the invasive pyralid moth Cactoblastis cactorum Berg. A combination of observational surveys and experimental plantings were...

Objective: Opuntia humifusa (O. humifusa) Raf. has been used for the prevention and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, and cancer. Our study was designed to unveil the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the methanolic extract of O. humifusa Raf stem (OHS).  Material and Methods: The anti-nociceptive effect was measured by hot plate, acetic acid-induced writhing, and...

OBJECTIVE Opuntia humifusa (O. humifusa) Raf. has been used for the prevention and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, and cancer. Our study was designed to unveil the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the methanolic extract of O. humifusa Raf stem (OHS). MATERIALS AND METHODS The anti-nociceptive effect was measured by hot plate, acetic acid-induced writhing, and...

We investigated the effect of Opuntia humifusa (O. humifusa) supplementation on bone density and related hormone secretion in growing male rats. Sixteen six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups; control diet group (CG, n = 8), and experimental diet group (EG, n = 8). The rats in the CG were given a control diet and those in the EG were given 5% O. humifusa add...