Antioxidant activity of cactus pear fruits and bioavailability of betalan components in healthy humans

Consumption of fruit and vegetables is now associated with protection against various pathologies, including cancer and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, in which oxidative damage is an important etiologic factor. Various compounds from plant food, acting independently of known nutrients and micronutrients, have appeared very important in protecting human health. Most of these components can act as antioxidants or affect redox-dependent cell activities involved both in physiological and pathological events. In this scenery fruits of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), and the characteristic betalain pigments have recently attracted the attention of researchers. While suggesting major benefits from diets including cactus pear fruits, to reduce the risk of age-related and degenerative diseases in which destruction of finely tuned redox-regulated transduction pathways may play a pathogenic role, our findings open to new studies directed to possible applications of purified fruit components either as such, or as lead compounds for novel therapeutics.