A Review of Antimicrobial Activities of Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica)
Wafaa M. Hikal
*
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, P.O.Box 741, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia and Department of Water Pollution Research, Laboratory of Parasitology, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, 33 El-Bohouth St., Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Hussein A.H. Said-Al Ahl
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Department, National Research Centre, 33 El-Bohouth St., Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Miroslava Kačániová
Department of Fruit Science, Viticulture and Enology, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia and Department of Bioenergetics, Food Analysis and Microbiology, Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Rzeszow, Cwiklinskiej 1, 35-601 Rzeszow, Poland.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Treatment with medicinal and aromatic plants and the use of their biologically active products, especially as anti-microbial, has become a very important and urgent matter due to the need for new anti-microbe drugs, as a result ofthe emergence of some strains of parasitesresistant to chemotherapy. Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) is an amazing multipurpose plant that has been used for thousands of years in almost all parts of the world for use as food, therapy,and other purposes. It belongs to Cactaceae family and is important in agricultural economies throughout arid and semi-arid regions. This paper reviews its traditional medicine to treat so many types of diseases. The paper also reviews the antimicrobial activity of cactus. Cactus is consumed by humans in different forms including raw, jam, juice, and in other formulated safe food products whose ingredients include cactus. This comprehensive review clearly shows that cactus is indeed a very valuable plant of the past and the future.
Keywords: Cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica, phytotherapy, traditional medicine, antibacterial, antifungal activity