Biochemistry & Analytical Biochemistry

Abstract

Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Different Constituents Extracted from Egyptian Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) Peel

Faten M. Abou-Elella and Rehab Farouk Mohammed Ali

Different extracts and their fractions of the Opuntia ficus-indica peel were evaluated for anticancer and antioxidant activities. The anticancer activity was tested using trypan blue technique against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells (EACC). Antioxidant activity was determined using the, α- diphenyl- β-picrilhydrazyl radical-scavenging assay system, and compared with those of the positive controls of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Chloroform and ethanol extracts exhibited the strongest antioxidant and anticancer activity in the assay system. The ethanolic extract was further separated into nine fractions, designated as (E1-E9), by TLC. In most cases, E8 and E9 fractions have the strongest antioxidantandanticanceractivitiesthereforethesetwofractionswereidentifiedusingdifferent spectroscopic tools (MS, IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR). The compounds were chemically identified as 17-hydroxy betanin and betanin. The total phenolic contents, tannins, flavonoids, betanins and reducing powers of the different extracts, and their fractions, were also measured. The antioxidant and anticancer potency showed significant relationship with the total phenolic content.