Planta Med 2015; 81 - PW_228
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565852

LC-HRMS based chemical profiling of Opuntia ficus indica and assessment of its antioxidant, whitening, protective activity and toxicity

N Tsafantakis 1, I Raptaki 2, 3, K Kyriakopoulou 2, E Katsanou 2, N Lemonakis 1, AL Skaltsounis 1, K Machera 2, N Fokialakis 1
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, 15771, Athens, Greece
  • 2Laboratory of Pesticides Toxicology, Department of Pesticides Control & Phytopharmacy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute,14561, Athens, Greece
  • 3Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, 71003, Heraklion, Greece

Opuntia ficus indica is an important food source with high nutritional value that contains also several bioactive secondary metabolites. In continuation of our research we have performed a comparative study on the chemical content and the biological activity of different tissues (cladode, fruit flesh, flower, fruit peel, and seed). Each of the plant materials was extracted with different solvents and analyzed by HPLC and then by LC-HRMS to compare relative concentrations and identify main phytochemicals. Then all extracts have been assessed for their antioxidant activity against DPPH and ABTS radicals, and for their potential skin whitening properties and toxicity.

The aqueous extracts of cladodes and flowers have been shown to be a particularly rich source of phenolic acids and flavonoids, respectively. On the other hand, the fruit flesh aqueous extract showed a high indicaxanthin content. In addition, cladode, flower and peel extracts demonstrated high radical scavenging activities against the ABTS radical cation. However, a poor scavenging effect on DPPH radical was observed. Most extracts showed also whitening activity by the tyrosinase assay.

Furthermore, the potential protective and cytotoxic effects of aqueous extracts have been evaluated in vitro. Cell viability was determined using the MTT assay and none of the extracts showed cytotoxicity neither in HepG2 cell line nor in Hela cells. The genotoxic potential was studied with the Comet assay and none of the tested extracts exhibited genotoxic activity (DNA damage) in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, some of the extracts exhibit protective activity against DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide in HepG2 cells.

Therefore, the absence of any cytotoxic effect of the extracts in combination to the protective, antioxidant and the promising skin-whitening effects also lay the foundation for a wider use of this plant in the cosmetic industry.