J Ethnopharmacol. 2001 Jun; 76(1): 1-9.

Antiulcer activity of Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae): ultrastructural study.

Galati EM, Monforte MT, Tripodo MM, d'Aquino A, Mondello MR.

Pharmaco-Biological Department, Vill. SS.Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy.

In Sicily folk medicine, Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. cladodes are used for the treatment of gastric ulcer. We studied the effect of administration of lyophilized cladodes on experimental ethanol-induced ulcer in rat. In this paper, we report the ultrastructural observations of gastric mucosa. The ultrastructural changes were observed by trasmission electronic microscopy (TEM) confirming the protective effect exercised by administration of lyophilized cladodes. Pre-treatment test in rats revealed a protective action against ethanol-induced ulcer. Probably, the mucilage of Opuntia ficus indica is involved.