Send Orders for Reprints to reprints@benthamscience.net 196 Current Nutrition & Food Science, 2014, 10, 196-217 Phytochemical Content, Nutraceutical Potential and Biotechnological Applications of an Ancient Mexican Plant: Nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica) P.I. Angulo-Bejarano, O. Martínez-Cruz and O. Paredes-López* Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados-IPN, Unidad Irapuato, Km 9.6 Libr. Norte Carr. Irapuato-León, Apdo. Postal 629, 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, México Abstract: Nopal is by far the most important cactus worldwide. Since its pre-Hispanic use for food and cochineal dye production, domestication of this plant was one of the most important inheritances left by ancient Mexicans. Nowadays, nopal research is increasing mainly due to the many nutraceutical properties that have been attributed to this plant. Its po- tential use against type 2 diabetes is gaining importance which has been related to its high antioxidant and dietary fiber contents. Even more, the consumption of nopal cladodes and fruits has been associated with anticancer properties or can- cer chemoprevention issues. Other nutraceutical properties also elucidated include antiulcer activity, antiallergenic poten- tial and helping long-term memory. Moreover, new biotechnological tools are now been applied in nopal such as in vitro tissue culture techniques and genetic plant transformation. Important industrial enzymes have been isolated, purified and characterized from nopal. Finally, food industry applications for nopal are increasing because of its nutraceutical proper- ties and its potential use as a functional ingredient in the production of bakery products, bars and tortillas, among other in- teresting new technological uses. Therefore, the aim of the present review is to summarize the information generated in the last years around this important plant. Keywords: Opuntia health benefits, biotechnology, cacti. 1. INTRODUCTION Since the first human settlements in Mexico nopal consti- tuted an important source of food for indigenous people [1]. Cochineal dye production was one of the main uses associ- ated with nopal plants which contributed with its dispersion around the world. Nopal is the most important cactus species grown worldwide, with the highest economic importance due to its use as food and forage along with its nutraceutical po- tential. In view of this, nopal research has increased over the last two decades. Many reports indicate its use as an impor- tant medicinal or nutraceutical agent. Traditionally, nopal use has been closely linked with its antidiabetic potential; many research groups have associated this effect with its high fiber content, nevertheless, today some other authors suggest that this might be due to the compounds isolated from the fiber free extracts [2]. Similarly, many reports indicate that this ancient plant exerts an anticarcinogenic effect attributed mainly to the plethora of antioxidant compounds present in both cladodes and fruits. Even more, other studies show that due to its high calcium and magnesium content nopal clado- des can aid in bone density increment [3]. In addition, nopal can be related to an anti-ulcer effect after ethanol consump- tion [4]. Biotechnological applications for nopal are increas- ing. Some of them include the establishment of in vitro cul- ture techniques suitable for massive propagation of endan- gered nopal species, as well as for commercial and ornamental *Address correspondence to this autor at the Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados-IPN, Unidad Irapuato, Km 9.6 Libr. Norte Carr. Irapuato-León, Apdo. Postal 629, 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, México; Tel: +52 (462) 6239641; Fax: +52 (462) 6249996; E-mail: oparedes@ira.cinvestav.mx cultivars [5, 6]. Hence, these techniques can likewise serve for the purpose of genetic transformation in prickly pear cac- tus. In this sense, genetic transformation techniques are un- der development, such as the biolistics process and the Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation [7]. On the other hand, nowadays novel applications for nopal are emerging, most of them mainly in the food industry. In this context, nopal has been incorporated as an extra ingredient in new healthier food alternatives. In addition, it has been used for the manufacturing of edible films, as powdered food ad- ditive and for the production of colorants. Furthermore, new applications of the cacti species have been developed for water treatment, raw material for Pb 2+ removal from con- taminated water, improvement of lime mortars for restora- tion, and as bio-insecticide against termites. 2. HISTORY Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill is the cactus species with the highest economic importance worldwide [8]. It is grown in America, Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania [9]. Since the arrival of humans to Mesoamerica, some 20,000 years ago, and specifically to the desert and semi-desert regions, nopal plants were an important source of food for indigenous peo- ple as well as drinks and medicines; long before the horticul- tural management of this plant was known, ancient Mexicans consumed it in abundance [1]. Even more, the Codex Men- doza describes the use of nopal in Aztec tribute rolls [10]. Such Codex includes a representation of Opuntia cladodes amongst other items such as ocelot and jaguar skins [11]. These plants were distributed from Mesoamerica to Cuba, and other Caribbean islands, at the time they were discov- ered by European explorers [12]. 2212-3881/14 $58.00+.00 © 2014 Bentham Science Publishers