Nutritional supplement

Composition
One capsule contains:

• Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia ficus indica)  powder  - 400 mg

Recommendations for use:
• to strengthen the immune system and general status,
• to improve bowel function.

Action of active substances
Opuntia
Opuntia is known since XVI century. The plant was brought to Europe from Mexico. The active substances in opuntia have many important properties:
* Amino acids help to control sugar concentration in the blood, improve liver and pancreas function, increase tissue sensibility to insulin, decrease the assimilation of the carbohydrates and fat absorption in the digestion tract. Amino acids also stimulate the elimination of the fluids from the tissues, the dissociation of the lipids and elimination from the organism, improve the function of the pancreas and liver.
* Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, C, calcium, magnesium, iron improve pancreas and liver function, increase cells sensibility to insulin, have detoxication function. Vitamin B3 decreases triglyceride and cholesterol concentration in the blood, vitamins C and A protect blood vessels walls from the formation of the atherosclerotic plaques. B group vitamins and alfa lipoic acid help to prevent the development of the diabetic neuropathy complications. Iron is involved in protein metabolism, selenium is responsible for tissue elasticity, calcium strengthens the bones and teeth, other minerals are involved in metabolism processes, ensure normal functions of the systems of the organism.
* Soluble fibers stimulate the absorption of the glucose in the intestine. Insoluble fibers help to eliminate the excess of bile acids and potential cancerogens (substances that induce development of the cancer) from the organism. They also improve digestion and protect from constipation. Bioflavonoid and fibers reduce the inflammation and have diuretic properties, also improve prostate function. Pectins evoke the sense of fullness because of that they are suitable for losing weight diets.

Scientific researches demonstrating the efficiency
* Cholesterol concentration decreases in the blood after 2 months of administration of opuntia extract. (Frati-Munari AC, Fernandez-Harp JA, de la Riva H, et al. Effects of nopal (Opuntia sp.) on serum lipids, glycemia and body weight. Arch Invest Med (Mex).
* Opuntia extract alleviates hangover syndrome. It relieves headache and dizziness, nausea, vomiting. It is known that excessive alcohol amount irritates digestion tract and caused temporary inflammation; however, opuntia ficus decreases the production of inflammation mediators. The research showed that C reactive protein (a protein that shows the inflammation process) was decreased by 40 percent in opuntia ficus group than in placebo group. The conclusion was made that the administration of opuntia extract decreases the risk of severe hangover syndrome by 50 percent. (Wiese J, McPherson S, Odden MC, Shlipak MG. Effect of Opuntia ficus indica on symptoms of the alcohol hangover. Arch Intern Med 2004;164:1334-40.)
* Patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into 2 groups. The first group received opuntia preparation, the second – placebo. Serum glucose and insulin level were measured after 1, 2, 3 hours. It was noticed in the first group that in 3 hours serum glucose concentration decreased 20 percent and serum insulin level – 60 percent; there were no such changes in placebo group. Conclusion: opuntia has hypoglycaemising property. (Frati et al. 1989)

Literature:
1. Munoz de Chavez M, Chavez A, Valles V, et al. The nopal: a plant of manifold qualities. World Rev Nutr Diet. 1995;77:109–134.
2. Frati Munari AC, Vera Lastra O, Ariza Andraca CR. Evaluation of nopal capsules in diabetes mellitus [in Spanish; English abstract]. Gac Med Mex. 1992;128:431–436.
3. Cardenas Medellin ML, Serna Saldivar SO, Velazco de la Garza J. Effect of raw and cooked nopal (Opuntia ficus indica) ingestion on growth and profile of total cholesterol, lipoproteins, and blood glucose in rat [in Spanish; English abstract]. Arch Latinoam Nutr. 1998;48:316–323.
4. Frati AC, Gordillo BE, Altamirano P, et al. Influence of nopal intake upon fasting glycemia in type II diabetics and healthy subjects . Arch Invest Med (Mex). 1991;22:51–56.
5. Wiese, J., et al. 2004. Effect of Opuntia ficus indica on symptoms of the alcohol hangover. Archives of Internal Medicine 164(June 28):1334-1340.