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Anti-inflammatory Activity and Chemical Characterisation of Opuntia ficus-indica Seed Oil Cultivated in Saudi Arabia

  • Research Article-Biological Sciences
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Abstract

The fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (OFI), a member of the family Cactaceae, are cultivated in Saudi Arabia and considered as a functional food with anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of current study was to chemically characterise OFI growing in Saudi Arabia by GC–MS and evaluate its anti-inflammatory activity in rat models via carrageenan-induced paw oedema and croton oil-induced ear oedema at two doses 100 and 200 mg/kg. Palmitic acid (10.68%), linoleic acid (5.9%), oleic acid (8.16%) and β-sitosterol (24.98%) are the major constituents in OFI seed oil. In carrageenan-induced rats, the OFI seed oil (100 and 200 mg/kg) produced significant inhibition of oedema by approximately 46% and 62%, respectively, and reduced prostaglandin (PGE2) concentrations in exudates by 54% and 67%, respectively. Also, it significantly decreased the weight of punch from challenged ears by 20% and 33% and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity by 54% and 62% of the induced ear, respectively. This was accompanied by amelioration of croton oil-induced histopathological changes. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory activity of the OFI seed oil might be attributed to the presence of unsaturated fatty acids (USFA) such as oleic acid (omega-9) in addition to β-sitosterol through decreasing PGE2 and MPO activity in the inflamed tissues which was supported by histopathological examination.

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Acknowledgements

This project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, under grant no. (G-181-166-1440). The authors, therefore, acknowledge with thanks DSR for technical and financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Products and Alternative Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    Abdulrahman E. Koshak & Hossam M. Abdallah

  2. Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt

    Hossam M. Abdallah

  3. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    Ahmed Esmat

  4. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt

    Ahmed Esmat

  5. School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, PA1 2BE, UK

    Mostafa E. Rateb

  6. Department of Chemistry, Marine Biodiscovery Centre, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, UK

    Mostafa E. Rateb

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  1. Abdulrahman E. Koshak
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  2. Hossam M. Abdallah
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  3. Ahmed Esmat
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Correspondence to Hossam M. Abdallah.

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Koshak, A.E., Abdallah, H.M., Esmat, A. et al. Anti-inflammatory Activity and Chemical Characterisation of Opuntia ficus-indica Seed Oil Cultivated in Saudi Arabia. Arab J Sci Eng 45, 4571–4578 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-020-04555-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-020-04555-x

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