Opuntia ficus-indica fruit consumption improves insulin resistance in mice with diet-induced obesity

Obesity induces various co-morbidities including insulin resistance. Opuntia ficus-indica fruit (OFIF) is rich in various beneficial compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study evaluated the efficacy of OFIF supplementation to counteract obesity-induced insulin resistance in comparison with an euglycemic agent, chromium picolinate (CrPi), in high-fat-diet (HFD)-fed mice. Molecular investigations associated with the observed effects as well as the evaluation of OFIF impact on the composition of gut microbiota in HFD mice were also carried out. Glucose metabolic parameters, oxidative stress and inflammation-related biomarkers were analysed in liver and adipose tissue of HFD, HFD + OFIF and HFD + CrPI mice.

OFIF supplementation, as well CrPi, improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity (evaluated as HOMA-IR) and increased hepatic and adipose tissue insulin receptor expression. Moreover, similar to CrPi, OFIF markedly decreased hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation in terms of NRF-2, SOD-2, NF-kB, iNOS and COX-2 protein expression levels. In adipose tissue, it reduced IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α gene expression and the density of crown-like structures. In HFD mice, OFIF supplementation increased the presence of bacterial genera positively correlated to beneficial effects such as Alloprevotella, Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group and NK4A214_group, while it reduced the abundance of some bacterial genera associated with harmful actions (Staphylococcus, Romboutsia, Sporosarcina, Lachnoclostridium and Enterohabdus).

Our research demonstrates for the first time the euglycemic potential of OFIF and its ability to counteract obesity-induced insulin resistance through not only its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties but also its positive modulation of gut microbiota. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.