Antiproliferative and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Encapsulated Opuntia Peel Polyphenols

A key pathophysiological feature of cancer and many chronic diseases is low-grade persistent inflammation. Given the importance of this condition, there is growing interest in natural products with both antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties, such as polyphenols. The antiproliferative and immunomodulatory activities of free and encapsulated polyphenol extracts from six Mexican Opuntia (Cactaceae) species have been determined. Extracts from six Opuntia peel varieties were assessed for antiproliferative activity using Caco2 and THP1 cells, as well as for anti-inflammatory potential through nitric oxide scavenging using RAW 264.7 cells. Both the free and encapsulated polyphenol extracts exhibited antiproliferative and nitric oxide-scavenging activities, although encapsulation greatly enhanced these activities. Results show that the peel from Opuntia fruits, a waste byproduct of little value so far, is a source of bioactive compounds with health-promoting properties. This may represent a revalorization of Opuntia crops and wild species that grow in arid and semiarid regions.