Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge
Vol. 10 (1), January 2011, pp. 194-197
Indigenous Cactus biodiversity: A viable genetic resource to fulfill multiform
needs under rainfed ecosystems
Munmun Rai1, Ranjay K Singh1, PC Sharma1 & Love K Singh2
1
Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, 132 001, Haryana; 2National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resource,
Karnal, 132 001, Haryana
E-mail: [email protected]
Received 22.10.2010; revised 07.01.2011
The constantly increasing demand for natural products is paralleled by a more pronounced request for natural
ingredients and health promoting foods. Cactus Pear was largely ignored by the scientific world until beginning of 1980 but
due to multifunctionality of the plant it is now considered as an important crop to human food in all its aspects. The review
discusses cactus pear fruit with special emphasis on its functional components besides their nutritional importance as a
neutraceutical, food, fodder and other health benefits.
Keywords: Indigenous biodiversity, Cactus biodiversity, Ethnomedicine, Climate change, Food security
IPC Int. Cl.8: A47G19/26; A23K; AD1D 5/04; AD1D 5/17; AD1D 11/8; AD1D 9/01; B05C; C09D
Cactus known as King of desert, is a group of
approximately 1,600 species in 130 genera subdivided
into three subfamilies Pereskioideae, Opuntioideae,
and Cactoideae. The most common is Opuntioideae
with more than 300 species, among them 100 has
been found in wild habitat in Mexico. People from
North Africa call it the bridge of life, because it is the
only feeding and watering resource for animals during
drought seasons. Looking to the importance of cactus
species in combating with climate change- as its gene
has a potential to be transferred to the agriculture
crops to make them temperature resistant/tolerant,
availability as fodder during droughts and a major
bio-resource for ethnomedicinal purpose, this study
was carried out to explore the potential of cactus
species. Also information pertaining to its uses was
explored from primary and secondary sources and
the collection from certain people of Gujarat
(Surender Nagar district), Rajasthan (Alwar district)
and Uttar Pradesh (Azaamgarh district). Data were
recorded from individual 5 persons of three randomly
selected villages of each district. Objective of
collecting primary data was to enhance objectivity of
certain species recorded from selected states of India.
Prior informed consent (PIC) was obtained from key
knowledge holders on the medicinal aspects of cactus
species.
———————
*
Corresponding author
Results and discussion
Different varieties of the cactus are found in India
which has immense ethnomedicinal value (Table 1).
Selenicereus grandiflorus (with large sweet-scented
night flowering flowers) and the Opuntia stricta are
found in the wasteland as hedge plants. Opuntia
elatior with edible fruits can be found in western
India, while Caralluma adscendens, C. umbellate are
common in Orissa and the peninsular region.
Mammillaria,
Notocactus,
Rebutia
and
Gymnocalycium are quite hardy and capable of
flowering when they are still small. Echinocereus and
Matucana can survive in cold climates, while
Opuntias can withstand freezing temperatures.
Echinocactus
grusonii,
Gymnocalycium,
Mammillaria, Melocactus, Ferocactus, Astrophytum,
Sulcorebutia, Opuntia, Parodia and Hildwintera.
Echinocactus is green in colour with pale yellow
spines. It has a round centre which turns into a barrel
with age. The plant blossoms once in 10yrs producing
small yellow flowers. In Indian succulents are being
used in Ayurveda and Unani medicines for centuries.
Some species of cactus are used in control of diabetes
as it has been reported that Opuntia stem (Fig.1) can
decrease glucose level to about 30–40 mg per dl in
three hours by stimulating pancreas activity1,2.
Trichocereus pachanoi (night blooming cactus) is
widely processed into homeopathic medicine for
RAI et al.: INDIGENOUS CACTUS BIODIVERSITY UNDER RAINFED ECOSYSTEMS
Table 1- Cactus biodiversity and thier major uses
Name of species
Selenicereus
grandiflorus
Trichocereus
pachanoi
Part of plant
Whole plant
Useful as
Hedge plants
Pads or cladodes
Saguaro cactus
Stem
Lophocereus
Schottics
Whole plant,
pulverized stems
Peyote cactus
Thore
Fruit, stem
Pads or cladodes
and fruits
Whole plant,
flowers
urinary track infection,
diuretic, a hallucinogenic
drug
enhance milk flow in
mother
Painkiller, in toothache,
rheumatism, asthma and
colds
Neurasthenia
Pickle, jams
to increase sperm count
Good source of milk clot
enzymes, red dye,
cicatrizant, jams, pickle,
waterproofing paints
Suppress appetite
neuroprotective effects
Enhance and provide
energy
Opuntia.ficusindica
Caralluma
fimbriata
Hoodia
Stem
Stem
urinary track infection as it acts as a diuretic and clean
the blood by detoxification of the kidneys through the
urine and helps in angina and contain mescaline, a
hallucinogenic drug which acts upon optic nerves and
is capable of inducing vision3.
Saguaro cactus (Carnegia gigantia) is found to
enhance milk flow in mother after the child birth
cactus ribs are used as splints for broken bows4. The
stems of Lophocereus Schottics (Senita), is reported
to be processed into drugs to fight cancer due to the
presence of antioxidants which neutralizes free
radicles4. Traditional communities use cactus as
painkiller, in toothache, rheumatism, asthma and
colds. In the psychotherapy, Peyote cactus syrup is
available for the treatment of neurasthenia which
induces. It also has a strong antibacterial effect and
can kill bacteria that are resistant to penicillins4.
Several species of Cactus contain alkaloids hordenine
and tyramine, which have antiseptic properties.
Hordinine has an inhibitory action against at least
18 strains of penicillin resistant Staphylococcus
bacteria. Tribal people in several parts of India use it
to reduce pain during child birth. Cactus cladodes are
still used as a traditional remedy for quick muscle pull
relief. Women in Rajasthan use tender shoot of Thore
cactus as pickle, whereas in Gujarat Thore cactus is
extensively used as a traditional remedy for the
impotent men to increase sperm count.
Enzymes from unripe fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica
L. (Fig.2) extracts could be a good source of milk clot
enzymes for the dairy industry also the prickly pear
195
was used for making highly waterproof intense white
paint by traditional people by adding paddles of
cactus ,lime and salt in a right proportion which was
very economical and ecofriendly5. Hoodia cactus,
contain a molecule having a unique quality that fools
nerve cells which senses glucose levels and tends the
brain to think that glucose levels are high which
thereby ceases hunger carving. It also has an ability to
enhance and provide energy. The six foot plants
contain an active ingredient which research has shown
could reduce appetite by up to 2,000 calories a day.
Hoodia is used by tribal people for long hunting trips.
Like Hoodia, Caralluma fimbriata (native to India)
has been also used to suppress appetite, and is also
called as a portable food for hunting6. Cactus also
posses antioxidant compounds called betalanins which
has a strong effect on free radicals in the body ranging
from 180 mg kg-1 to 300 mg kg-17. Cactus extract
Fig. 1―Cactus for feed to animals
Fig. 2―Cactus used for making colour
196
INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 10, NO 1, JANUARY 2011
can reduce risk of a severe hangover from alcohol
consumption because of its unique property to
counteract alcohol effect8. In Australia, Mexico,
America and some parts of Europe are making quality
brandy and colonche wine from cactus. Seeds of
cactus have quality oil which consists about 60% of
linolic acid. The oil also has anti wrinkle properties
and counteracts ageing9. Also Cactus extracts contain
copious amounts of phytochemicals to promote
increased immune function, and high levels of potent
antioxidants. These antioxidants neutralize free
radicals and protect against future cellular damage
and premature ageing.
Cactus is also used for producing natural cochineal
dye which is produced by insect (Dactyloptus
coccus), raised on cactus cladodes. On squeezing of
these clumps, the red dye appears. The world price of
cochineal dye is reported to range from $20 per kg to
more than $60 per kg of dried product. In India
(mainly in eastern UP), flowers of cactus are used as
herbal colour in the festival of holi. Extract of cactus
is used to purify water contaminated from heavy
metals by precipitating ions, particles and bacteria.
Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes used in Sicilian folk
medicine as for healing wounds as it is capable of
maintaining high humidity of wound dressing
interface10. A part from these immense valuable uses
it is also an indispensable part of xerophytic (dry)
garden, in arid regions and sometimes acts as a living
fence around the farms. This can be promoted as
commercial crop to mitigate the challenges of fodder,
food, ethnomedicine, neutraceuticals compounds, etc.
This genetic resource has great potential to
incorporate its gene in agricultural crop in order to
increase productivity of several crops under rain fed
ecosystem and meet out the multifarious needs of
farmers in India. Though, collection of germplasm
from various source in ICAR institutions are started
on this line, but more sincere efforts should be made
for screening and improvement of varieties. The plant
is well adapted to dry and rain fed agroecosystem and
is easily be planted from cuttings or seeds and raised
with minimal care and attention. It could be a good
potential genetic resource to cope up the issue of
climate change; the plant has an ample scope for
introduction and cultivation in that drought prone area
of the country where 65% of the poor rural population
is settled. Cactus is threatened by loss and degradation
of habitat, and illegal collection. Though, it is
commonly stated that many species are endangered,
most have not yet been evaluated. Due to growing
impact of human activities on biodiversity it is
necessary to increase conservation actions to preserve
this interesting group of plant especially in India
where knowledge and conservation of cacti are still
incipient. Understanding the relationships between
indigenous people and the threatened plant can aid the
conservation effort on many levels .Sometimes it has
been found that these indigenous people have there
own unique methods of conservation which has been
followed by them from generation to generation.
Conclusion
One greatest attempt is made by the National
Cactus and Succulent Botanical Garden and Research
Centre situated in Panchkula, Satellite town of
Chandigarh City. The objective behind developing the
garden was preservation and conservation of
endangered species of cacti and succulents and to
create tourist attraction. It is considered as Asia's
largest outdoor landscaped cacti and succulents
garden with over 2,500 species of cacti & succulents.
The garden has comprehensive collection of Indian
succulents, the largest in the world, some of them
extremely rare and has already been declared as
endangered species, which includes complete
collection of Genus Caralluma of Indian origin. The
cactus species of particularly, India has great potential
to deal with the challenges posed by climate change in
coming time. It will play pivotal role not only in crop
improvement sector, but also to develop nutritionally
rich food for human, feed for animals and the
ethnomedicine for the poor who are living in tropical
ecosystems of India and aboard as well.
Acknowledgment
Authors are grateful to all the key knowledge
holders of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, who
have provided information on medical aspects of few
species of cactus. The information taken from cactus
Museum, Chandigarh is thankfully acknowledged.
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