Identification of metabolites present in Opuntia callus and study of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic properties

The metabolites present in Opuntia species have been widely studied by their health-promoting effects, but there is no information about the compounds present in Opuntia callus or their biological effects. The aim of this study was to identify the metabolites in Opuntia ficus indica, Opuntia megacantha and Opuntia streptacantha callus ethanolic extracts, and to analyze their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic properties in mammalian cells. The compounds identified by chromatographic analysis and mass spectroscopy showed that the Opuntia callus from the three species synthesized 3,5-Di-O-galloylshikimic acid as major compound, as well as gallic acid and epicathequin derivates in lower concentration. The calluses metabolites reduced the formation of reactive oxygen species in Caco-2 cells similarly to the flavonoid isorhamnetin. The anti-inflammatory activity, measured as the production of nitric oxide, was inhibited between 20 and 68%25 in a murine macrophage cell line. This inhibition was higher with O. streptacantha callus extracts, followed by those of O. megacantha and O. ficus-indica. Additionally, a reduction on the lipid accumulation in 3T3 cells was observed, during and after adipocyte differentiation using extracts from the three Opuntia species. Our results prove that Opuntia calluses are a source of compounds with pharmacological relevance. © 2020, Springer Nature B.V.

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