prickly pear cactus

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• prickly-pear
• prickly-pear cactus
• Prickly Pears
• desert pears
• devil's-tongues
• prickly pear cactuses
• prickly-pears

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chaffeyopuntia
• Subulatopuntia
• Nopalea
• Nopal
• Platyopuntia
• Plutonopuntia
• Tunas
• Ficindica
• Phyllarthus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales, specifically falling under the family Cactaceae. Ultimately, this medicinal species is identified by the genus Opuntia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a varied geographical distribution across several European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence can be identified within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found inhabiting the landscapes of Austria. It also maintains a notable distribution throughout the areas of Czechia-Slovakia. Finally, the plant extends its reach into Germany and the Netherlands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Activities

Opuntia has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. La Clinica terapeutica

Conditions

Opuntia has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndromes, obesity.

Cancer

1. La Clinica terapeutica

Hyperglycemia

1. La Clinica terapeutica

Metabolic syndromes

1. La Clinica terapeutica

Obesity

1. La Clinica terapeutica

Preparations

Opuntia has 3 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Opuntia extract, capsules, extract.

Opuntia extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Capsules

1. Gaceta medica de Mexico

Extract

1. Archivos de investigacion medica