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Aims: This study was aimed to investigate the effects of methanol extracts from various parts of the Pereskia bleo Kuhn plant on Acanthamoeba sp. The antioxidant levels of each extract from different plant parts were measured after the extraction process. These extracts were then exposed to Acanthamoeba sp. to assess dose-response, IC50 values, changes in cell morphology, internal cell activity and apoptosis based on alterations in phospholipids. Methodology and results: The total phenolic content, carotenoid estimation and antioxidant activity of the leaves, flowers and fruits of P. bleo were measured based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH) assay. Its antiamoebic properties were tested using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay for the IC50 determination. The morphological and biochemical changes in the Acanthamoeba sp. were observed under light and fluorescence microscopy using the acridine orange and propidium iodide double staining (AO/PI). The IC50 values of P. bleo leaves, flowers and fruits methanolic extracts were 5.884%, 0.1646% and 20.69%, respectively. Morphological observation displayed shortened acanthapodia with darkened cytoplasms. AO/PI-stained Acanthamoeba sp. cells appear with orange-fluorescent organelles in their green cytoplasm, indicating autophagic cell deaths. Apoptotic and necrotic Acanthamoeba sp. cells were absent based on Annexin V labelling. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: This study confirmed that the methanolic crude extracts of P. bleo exhibit high cytotoxic potential towards Acanthamoeba sp. trophozoites by inducing an autophagic mode of cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objectives: A previous study reported that the hexane fraction (HF) obtained from Pereskia aculeata leaves showed promising topical anti‐inflammatory activity. Intending its future use in clinical practice, a herbal medicine cream named INFLATIV was developed. Its anti‐inflammatory and antipsoriatic potential were investigated. INFLATIV was subjected to preliminary accelerated stability tests and to a degradation profile assessment. Methods: INFLATIV was prepared at 6% and 12%. The anti‐inflammatory activity was assessed by croton oil single and multiple application challenge in mice. Mouse tail test was used for antipsoriatic potential investigation. Cutaneous atrophy test was performed. Preliminary accelerated stability tests were performed together with a degradation profile by GC‐MS analysis. Key findings: The anti‐inflammatory activity shown by INFLATIV was comparable to dexamethasone. However, the skin atrophy caused by that drug was not observed. INFLATIV modified skin parakeratotic differentiation into orthokeratosis, which revealed its antipsoriatic potential. The ingredients used were suitable to carry the bioactives as they were well permeated by the skin. The preliminary accelerated stability tests indicated that INFLATIV 6% is more stable than 12%. Conclusions: The results demonstrated the relevant therapeutic and marketing potentials of INFLATIV, which is likely to be further evaluated in clinical trials for drug registration process with regulatory agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Species introduced into new habitats are fitter than their native populations, as hypothesized by the 'evolution of increased competitive ability' (EICA). Here, Pereskia aculeata Miller was used as a model to test EICA and explore how 'enemy release' may have influenced the invasion success of its 400‐year‐old introduced populations (genotypes) compared with native populations. Plant growth traits (height and shoot length) of 15 genotypes [four from the introduced range (South Africa) and 11 from the native range (Brazil and Argentina, Venezuela and The Dominican Republic)] were assessed. Damage and impact of a shoot‐feeding, sap‐sucking specialist Catorhintha schaffneri Brailovsky & Garcia on ten genotypes were also compared. RESULTS: All but one of the invasive genotypes were significantly taller than native genotypes. Although the invasive genotypes were relatively more damaged by herbivory than some of the native genotypes, the observed differences were not explained completely by their origins. Nonetheless, the findings partially supported the predictions of the EICA hypothesis because invasive genotypes were generally taller than native genotypes, but did not fully support the hypothesis because they were not always more damaged than the native genotypes by C. schaffneri. CONCLUSION: Invasive genotypes had an advantage in the introduced range as they can climb neighbouring vegetation more quickly than native genotypes, but the damage incurred by the invasive genotypes relative to the native genotypes suggests only that C. schaffneri would be as damaging in South Africa, where it serves as a biocontrol agent, as it is in its native distribution in Brazil. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work analyses the rheological properties of the mucilage extracted from leaves of the Pereskia aculeata Miller (HOPN) dependent of concentration and temperature. The concentrations studied were 1–5% (w/w) at temperatures 2–42 °C. The stationary shear test was performed to determine the fluid's behavior to the flow and the apparent viscosity (at 100 s−1). The oscillatory dynamic shear tests were performed by varying the deformation of 0.5% to 700% (at 1 Hz). The frequency sweep was performed by varying the frequency of 0.1 to 10 Hz (at 1%). The power and exponential models and the Arrhenius model were used to evaluate the effect of concentration and temperature, respectively. The mucilage solutions were classified as pseudoplastic and the behavior was explained by the power law. The HOPN concentration had a positive effect and temperature had a negative effect on the apparent viscosity. The linear viscoelasticity region exceeded the 1% deformation in all systems which were characterized as natural polymeric gels. Higher concentration yielded the higher mucilage deformability and the greater structural resistance. The frequency sweep showed that the mucilage with concentration of 1% at 2 °C do not have defined behavior; concentrations of 1% (12–42 °C), 2%, 3% and 4% (2 °C, 12 °C and 22 °C) were characterized as concentrated solutions and concentrations of 4% (32 °C and 42 °C) and 5% were characterized as gel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some vegetables that are rarely used and/or unknown in daily menu, can represent great sources of vital nutrients to maintain the metabolic health of their consumers. Among them is Pereskia spp family, commonly known as ora-pro-nobis, "the flesh of the poor". According to RDC No. 54/2012 (BRASIL, 2012), Ora-pronobis can be considered a functional food due to its high protein content (approximately 25%), with high digestibility (80%), 3.35g/100g of calcium, 2.42g/100g of potassium, 1.13g/100g of phosphorus, 0.45g/100g of magnesium and 0.98g/100g of sulphur, leaf (140.36 ppm) and stem (88.75 ppm) iron. These data also meet the antioxidant characteristics of the plant. Studies have shown that the extracts, both leaves and stems, have a high content of restive compound to oxygen, given the characteristic of antioxidants. Considering the high nutritional value of this plant, the objective of this study was to verify the bromatological composition of the Perskia aculeata Miller and Pereskia grandifolia Haw leaves, as well as, evaluate the extrusion of the flour of its dehydrated leaves in proportion of addition of 10% together with corn, in order to evaluate the possibility of its processing. Extrusion tests were performed using 100 grams of sample containing 10% of dehydrated leaf completed with corn grits, obtaining extruded samples of CPA (Pereskia aculeata Miller), CPG (Pereskia Grandfolia Haw) and 100% corn grits (CP) as the standard for comparison. Samples were pre-stored at humidity of 20% prior to the process, which occurred steadily, without changes in the extruder parameters. Subsequently, the final extruded product was homogenized and dried in a rotary mixing drum at 60°C. Extrusion cooking was performed in duplicate using IMBRA RX50 (INBRAMAQ, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil), with a single thread of 50 mm in diameter and 200 mm in length. The die set used had two 3 mm diameter holes and the parameters were set with the motor amperage at 20A and feed rate of 15g/s with a cut at 120rpm. Sample were evaluated regarding ethereal extract, determined by continuous extractor method Soxhlet type, crude protein, measured by the Kjeldahl method (conversion factor 6.25 (N x 6.25)), ashes were obtained by incineration (550 °C) in muffle furnace, crude fibres, fibres in neutral detergent and acid detergent, total phenolic compounds (DPPH) and FRAP for antioxidant potential. Results demonstrated the nutritional viability of the two species, Pereskia aculeata Miller and Pereskia grandifolia Haw, in their bromatological parameters. Inclusion of dehydrated leaves in extruded products demonstrated as viable and the results showed that the final product has satisfactory nutritional characteristics, with substantial increase of protein, iron, fibres and antioxidant capacity in relation to the standard product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we evaluated the emulsifying properties of the hydrocolloids extracted from ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata Miller) (HOPN) in soy oil emulsions (20% w/w) in water after different processing conditions. These properties were evaluated in terms of index of creaming, activity and emulsifying stability, electrical conductivity, zeta potential, rheology, particle size distribution, and optical microscopy. A two-level factorial was used to evaluate the effects of changes in pH (4-7), sucrose concentration (0-15% w/w), and NaCl concentration (0-1% w/w) and different processing conditions. This study has important implications for the application of HOPN in the food industry, since it was found that the HOPN were efficient in forming emulsions with desirable characteristics under all conditions and that the presence of sucrose favored the characteristics of these emulsions. However, the presence of NaCl and acidic pH negatively influenced these characteristics leading to the conclusion that, under these conditions, the HOPN should be used in synergy with a stabilizing agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrocolloid powders from Pereskia aculeata Miller were obtained by using drying in a vacuum oven and freeze-drying at different concentrations (0.5-3.0 g of hydrocolloids/100 g of aqueous phase) to produce oil-in-water emulsions. The rheological characteristics of the emulsions and their microstructures were determined. The freeze-dried hydrocolloids and higher hydrocolloid concentrations resulted in emulsions with higher viscosities. The drying method and hydrocolloid concentration influenced the thixotropic behavior, and the resulting emulsions exhibited shear-thinning behavior. Microstructural analysis showed that with increasing freeze-dried hydrocolloid concentration, the emulsions had droplets with lower average diameters and greater uniformity, suggesting greater system stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this work were to study the chemical composition of the essential oil from the leaves of Pereskia aculeata and to evaluate some biological activities of three leaf extracts. The phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and in vitro antimicrobial and antifungal activities were determined. The methanol extract showed antioxidant activity (EC50 7.09 mg/mL) and high polyphenols content (15.04 ± 0.31 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g). The petroleum ether extract exhibited potent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, whereas the chloroform extract showed inhibitory activity against Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. The petroleum ether and methanol extracts were more effective in inhibiting the growth of Aspergillus versicolor. The possible cytotoxicity of extracts on neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cancer cell line and the influence on adenylate cyclase (ADCY) expression was also studied. P. aculeata chloroform extract showed antiproliferative activity with an IC50 value of 262.83 μg/mL. Treatments of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with 100 μg/mL of methanol extract significantly reduced ADCY1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To study the anti-inflammatory effects and its possible action mechanism of Pereskia aculeate Miller on rats with adjuvant arthritis (AJ). [Methods] Fifty SD rats (half male and half female) were randomly divided into 5 groups: blank group, model group, positive control group (Glucosidorum Tripterygll Totorum (GTT), 12 mg/kg), and P. aculeate high and low dose group (0.86 and 0.43 g/mL). Except the blank group, other groups were induced with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) to establish the AA rat model. On the 17th day of modeling, the drug was externally applied for soaking, and the diameter of foot hole and foot joint before and after administration was measured to observe the degree of swelling. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted to determine the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1δ (1L-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). [Results] Compared with the model group, the degree of swelling of the foot sole and foot joints was reduced in the P. aculeate high dose group and the positive control group (P < 0.05). According to ELISA test, compared with the model control group, the serum levels of IL-1β (P <0.05) and TNF-α (P <0.05) were significantly reduced in the P. aculeate high dose group and the positive control group. Compared with the positive control group, there was no significant difference (P>0.05). [Conclusions] P. aculeate has significant inhibitory effects on foot swelling of adjuvant arthritis in rats, and the action mechanism is possibly related to the decrease of IL-1β and TNF-α. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agricultural Research in the Tropics / Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical is the property of Pesquisa Agropecuaria Tropical and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Context:Pereskia aculeataMiller (Cactaceae) is a cactus distributed from south to northeast of Brazil, where its leaves are commonly used as a vegetable, in skin wound healing, and to treat inflammation. Objectives: The objective of this study was to perform the chemical characterization and to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of the hydromethanolic fraction obtained from the methanol extract ofP. aculeataleaves. Materials and methods: Chemical characterization was performed by UPLC–MS analysis. The antinociceptive activity was evaluated by the acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin, and tail-flick tests in mice, administering the single oral doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg 1 h before each test. Results: Tryptamine, abrine, mescaline, hordenine, petunidin, di-tert-butylphenol isomers, and quercetin were identified. The antinociceptive activity was inversely proportional to the administered doses in the acetic acid test, as the dose of 100 mg/kg reduced by 78% the number of writhings, while the doses of 200 and 300 mg/kg reduced by 64% and 41%, respectively. In the formalin test, the dose of 300 mg/kg inhibited by 50% and 86% the licking paw time in the first and second phases, respectively, while the doses of 200 mg/kg (45% and 62%, respectively) and 100 mg/kg (15% and 48%, respectively) were less effective. The sample did not respond to the tail-flick test. Those results suggested a peripheral and central antinociception devoid of an opioid effect. Conclusion:Pereskia aculeatanot only is a plant food with high nutritional value but also presents analgesic potential. It is the first time that this bioactivity is reported for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum: Agronomy is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The ora-pro-nobis (Pereskia aculeata Miller) is a plant of tropical origin, belonging to the family of Cactaceae. It is a perennial climbing plant, with too many thorns on its branches, fleshy leaves and presence of mucilage. Once its leaves have high protein content, it is socalled "meat of the poor". Furthermore, the leaves are also rich in fiber and minerals, especially iron, calcium, magnesium and manganese. In this study, a flour from ora-pro-nobis leaves was produced and used in sausage formulations at concentrations of 1 and 2%. The flour was characterized for its chemical composition, color and pH. The flour from ora-pro-nobis leaves presented a high content of fiber (11.13%±0.05) and protein (40.68%±1.61), thus it can be considered as an excellent source to nutritionally enhance the products in which it is added. The sausages were evaluated by both physicochemical (chemical composition, color and texture) and sensory analyses. Although it has caused important changes in color and texture of the sausages, these changes have not depreciated the sensory acceptance. Therefore, it can be concluded that the flour from ora-pro-nobis leaves can be used at a level of 2% to increase the nutritional quality of sausages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agricultural Research in the Tropics / Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical is the property of Pesquisa Agropecuaria Tropical and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pereskia aculeataMiller (Cactaceae) is an invasive alien plant from Central and South America that has become a problematic environmental weed in South Africa. A potential biological control agent, the stem-wilter,Catorhintha schaffneriBrailovsky & Garcia (Coreidae), was collected in southern Brazil and imported into quarantine in South Africa. Field host range data suggested thatC. schaffnerihas a host range restricted toP. aculeata. No-choice nymph survival tests were then conducted on 27 test plant species in 9 families. Survival to the adult stage was only recorded onP. aculeataand the closely relatedPereskia grandifoliaHaw. (Cactaceae). Mortality was significantly higher onP. grandifoliawith only 3% of the nymphs reaching the adult stage compared with 74% onP. aculeataindicating thatP. aculeatais the primary host plant.P. grandifoliais native in South America and is of no agricultural importance in South Africa so any feeding onP. grandifoliain South Africa would have no negative environmental or economic consequences. In other tests, adult survival onP. aculeata[25.8 days (SE ± 3.74)] was significantly longer than on other test plant species [4.3 days (SE ± 0.36)] further confirming the host specificity of the species. Impact studies conducted in quarantine indicated thatC. schaffneriis damaging toP. aculeata, significantly reducing the number of leaves and the shoot lengths of plants, even at relatively low insect densities.C. schaffneriis safe for release in South Africa and is likely to be a damaging and effective agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of nature as a source of sustainable, novel bioactive substances continues to grow as natural products play a significant role in the search for new therapeutic and agricultural agents. In this context, plants of the genus Pereskia (Cactaceae) have been studied for their biological activities, and are evolving as an interesting subject in the search for new, bioactive compounds. These species are commonly used as human foodstuffs and in traditional medicine to treat a variety of diseases. This review focuses on the bioactivity and chemical composition of the genus Pereskia, and aims to stimulate further studies on the chemistry and biological potential of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pereskia bleois a species of primitive cactus. In the present study, infrared spectroscopy was used to characterize the antioxidant activity ofP. bleoleaves by multivariate analysis. A total of twenty-four extracts were prepared in different solvents. Antioxidant activities were measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay and fingerprinted by infrared spectroscopy between 4000 and 400 cm−1at a resolution of 2 cm−1. A three component multivariate orthogonal partial least squares model with R2Y of 0.88 and Q2of 0.86 was developed to correlate infrared spectra with antioxidant activity and evaluated by internal cross-validation and a true external test. For external validation, bioactivity of new extracts ofP. bleowas predicted using the model, and -OH, -NH, and -CH were identified as functional groups responsible for the activity. In summary, a successful orthogonal partial least squares model was developed using infrared spectroscopy as a rapid method to predict antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied cacti species of the subfamilies Pereskioideae (five species of the southern clade) and both species of Maihuenioideae using molecular cytogenetic techniques and DNA content. Mitotic chromosomes were analyzed for Pereskia aculeata, P. bahiensis, P. grandifolia, P. nemorosa, P. sacharosa, Maihuenia poeppigii, and M. patagonica, using the Feulgen stain, CMA/DAPI fluorescent chromosome banding, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH, probes of 5S rDNA and p Ta71 for 18-5.8-26S rDNA), and DNA content by flow cytometry technique. The karyotypes were highly symmetrical, most of the pairs being metacentric ( m). CMA/DAPI banding revealed the presence of CMA/DAPI bands associated with NORs in the first m pair of all species. The co-localization of 18-5.8-26S rDNA loci with CMA/DAPI/NORs blocks allowed the identification of homeologous chromosome pairs between species of both subfamilies. FISH using probe 5S rDNA was applied for the first time in both subfamilies. Diploid species had always one m pair carrying 5S rDNA genes, with pericentromeric location in different chromosome pairs. In the tetraploid cytotype of M. patagonica, the 5S rDNA probe hybridized to two pairs. The 2C DNA content obtained by FC varied twofold (from 1.85 to 2.52 pg), with significant differences between species. Mean chromosome length, karyotype formula, percentage of heterochromatin position of 5S rDNA locus, and nuclear Cx DNA content vary among Maihuenia and Pereskia species and allowed to differentiate them. Both genera are closely related and that the differences found are not strong enough to separate Maihuenioideae from Pereskioideae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agricultural Research in the Tropics / Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical is the property of Pesquisa Agropecuaria Tropical and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The leaves of Pereskia grandifolia Haw. (Cactaceae), commonly known as "Jarum Tujuh Bilah" in Malaysia, have been traditionally used as natural remedy in folk medicine by the locals. In the present study, the antioxidant potential of P. grandifolia crude methanol and its fractionated extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate and water) have been investigated, employing three different established testing systems, such as scavenging activity on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, reducing power assay and β-carotene method. The total phenolic content of the P. grandifolia extracts was also assessed by the Folin-Ciocalteau's method. The ethyl acetate extract showed significantly the highest total phenolic content, DPPH scavenging ability and antioxidant activity in β-carotene bleaching assay while the hexane extract possessed significantly strongest reducing power. The data obtained in these testing systems clearly establish the antioxidant potency of P. grandifolia. As such, this is the first report on the antioxidant activities of P. grandifolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pereskia bleo and Pereskia grandifolia, belonging to the botanical family Cactaceae, have been traditionally used by the locals in Malaysia for treatment of various ailments. The current study reports the outcome of acute oral toxicity investigation of Pereskia bleo and Pereskia grandifolia, on ICR mice. No mortalities or evidence of adverse effects have been observed in ICR mice following acute oral administration at the highest dose of 2500 mg/ kg crude extracts of Pereskia bleo and Pereskia grandifolia. This is the first report on the acute oral toxicity of Pereskia bleo and Pereskia grandifolia and the findings of this study are in agreement with those of in vitro experiments and thus provide scientific validation on the use of the leaves of Pereskia bleo and Pereskia grandifolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dihydroactinidiolide (1) and a mixture of sterols [campesterol (2), stigmasterol (3) and β-sitosterol (4)], together with the previously isolated individual compounds β- sitosterol (4), 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (5), a-tocopherol (6), phytol (7) were isolated from the active ethyl acetate fraction of Pereskia bleo (Kunth) DC. (Cactaceae) leaves. Cytotoxic activities of the above mentioned compounds against five human carcinoma cell lines, namely the human nasopharyngeal epidermoid carcinoma cell line (KB), human cervical carcinoma cell line (CasKi), human colon carcinoma cell line (HCT 116), human hormone-dependent breast carcinoma cell line (MCF7) and human lung carcinoma cell line (A549); and non-cancer human fibroblast cell line (MRC-5) were investigated. Compound 5 possessed very remarkable cytotoxic activity against KB cells, with an IC50 value of 0.81μg/mL. This is the first report on the cytotoxic activities of the compounds isolated from Pereskia bleo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pereskia aculeata Miller is a native cactus that can be found in Brazil and is called 'ora-pro-nobis' (OPN). Many people from poor communities consume the dark green leaves of OPN as a vegetable. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the nutritional components in terms of proximate composition, minerals, vitamins, protein content and their in vitro protein digestibility. OPN leaves showed remarkable levels of total dietary fiber (39.1% dry basis), minerals (calcium, magnesium, manganese and zinc) and vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin C and folic acid). Among amino acids, tryptophan was the most abundant (20.5% of the total amino acids) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed small peptides, inferior to 6.5 kDa, and four major bands (61 kDa, 53 kDa, 33 kDa, and 15 kDa). The protein digestibility corrected amino acid score showed the lowest value of sulfur-amino acids (Met+Cys). OPN leaves could be considered a good source of minerals, vitamins and amino acids, and may serve as a potential functional ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cacti have undergone extensive specialization in their evolutionary history, providing an excellent system in which to address large-scale questions of morphological and physiological adaptation. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies suggest that (I) Pereskia, the leafy genus long interpreted as the sister group of all other cacti, is likely paraphyletic, and (2) Cactaceae are nested within a paraphyletic Portulacaceae as a member of the "ACPT" dade (Anacampseroteae, Cactaceae, Portulaca, and Talinuin). We collected new data on the vegetative anatomy of the ACPT dade and relatives to evaluate whether patterns in the distributions of traits may provide insight into early events in the evolutionary transition to the cactus life form. Many traits had high levels of homoplasy and were mostly equivocal with regard to infraclade relationships of ACPT, although several characters do lend further support to a paraphyletic Pereskia. These include a thick stem cuticle, prominent stem mucilage cells, and hypodermal calcium oxalate druses, all of which are likely to be important traits for stem water storage and photosynthesis. We hypothesize that high lability of many putative "precursor" traits may have been critical in generating the organismal context necessary for the evolution of an efficient and integrated photosynthetic stem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A standardized sampling method was used to evaluate turnover (β diversity) among cactus species assemblages along a 798 km long latitudinal megatransect across the Chihuahuan Desert Region, from north-central Mexico to southern Texas. A total of 71 cactus species were found along the megatransect, 66.2% of which appeared at low frequencies, mostly as a consequence of their highly discontinuous distribution pattern. At the scale the study was conducted, there was always species turnover among cactus assemblages. The rate of turnover among contiguous sites primarily fluctuated from low to medium, but when all site combinations were considered (contiguous and non-contiguous), medium β diversity values were predominant (β = 0.331-0.66); however, 25.4% of the site pair combinations registered high values (β = 0.661-1.0). Our results showed that turnover among cactus species assemblages in the CDR does not consist for the most part of a process of species succession in the geographic space. Instead, we concluded that the continuous spatial changes in cactus species composition are primarily explained by the commonly intermittent distribution patterns of the species, by the presence in the megatransect of species at the margin of their distribution range, and, to a lesser extent, by the existence of narrowly endemic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Recent studies have demonstrated significant correlations between stem and leaf hydraulic properties when comparing across species within ecological communities. This implies that these traits are co-evolving, but there have been few studies addressing plant water relations within an explicitly evolutionary framework. • This study tests for correlated evolution among a suite of plant water-use traits and environmental parameters in seven species of Pereskia (Cactaceae), using phylogenetically independent contrasts. • There were significant evolutionary correlations between leaf-specific xylem hydraulic conductivity, Huber Value, leaf stomatal pore index, leaf venation density and leaf size, but none of these traits appeared to be correlated with environmental water availability; only two water relations traits – mid-day leaf water potentials and photosynthetic water use efficiency – correlated with estimates of moisture regime. • In Pereskia, it appears that many stem and leaf hydraulic properties thought to be critical to whole-plant water use have not evolved in response to habitat shifts in water availability. This may be because of the extremely conservative stomatal behavior and particular rooting strategy demonstrated by all Pereskia species investigated. These results highlight the need for a lineage-based approach to understand the relative roles of functional traits in ecological adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cactus life-form is cited as an example of a tight relationship between organism form and function: a succulent, longlived, photosynthetic stem allows cacti to survive long periods of drought while maintaining a positive tissue water status. Pereskia (Cactaceae) comprises 17 species of leafy shrubs and trees that are thought to represent the original cactus condition. Recent phylogenetic work has shown that there are two separate clades of Pereskia species, which are basal and paraphyletic with respect to the rest of the cacti.We selected seven Pereskia species, representing both clades, and characterized their water relations by measuring a suite of physiological traits in wild populations. Additionally, we estimated basic climate parameters from collection localities for all 17 Pereskia species. Extant Pereskia species exhibit ecological water use patterns that are very similar to those of the leafless, stem-succulent cacti. Ancestral trait reconstruction for the physiological and environmental data provides a preliminary assessment of the ecology and water relations of the earliest cacti and suggests that several key elements of the cactus ecological niche were established before the evolution of the cactus life-form. We interpret these ecological traits as potentially important drivers of evolutionary innovation in the cacti. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The specialized physiology of leafless, stem-succulent cacti is relatively well understood. This is not true, however, for Pereskia (Cactaceae), the 17 species of leafy trees and shrubs that represent the earliest diverging lineages of the cacti. Here we report on the water relations and photosynthesis of Pereskia guamacho, a small tree of the semiarid scrubland of Venezuela's Caribbean coast. Sapwood-specific xylem conductivity ( Ksp) is low when compared to other vessel-bearing trees of tropical dry systems, but leaf-specific xylem conductivity is relatively high due to the high Huber value afforded by P. guamacho's short shoot architecture. P. guamacho xylem is not particularly vulnerable to drought-induced cavitation, especially considering the high leaf water potentials maintained year round. This is confirmed by the lack of significant variation exhibited in Ksp between wet and dry seasons. In the rainy season, P. guamacho exhibited C3-like patterns of stomatal conductance, but during a prolonged drought we documented nocturnal stomatal opening with a concomitant accumulation of titratable acid in leaves. This suggests that P. guamacho can perform drought-induced crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM photosynthesis), although δ13C values imply that most carbon is assimilated via the C3 pathway. P. guamacho leaves display very low stomatal densities, and maximum stomatal conductance is low whether stomata open during the day or night. We conclude that leaf performance is not limited by stem hydraulic capacity in this species, and that water use is conservative and tightly regulated at the leaf level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cacti are well-known desert plants, widely recognized by their specialized growth form and essentially leafless condition. Pereskia, a group of 17 species with regular leaf development and function, is generally viewed as representing the ‘ancestral cactus,’ although its placement within Cactaceae has remained uncertain. Here we present a new hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships at the base of the Cactaceae, inferred from DNA sequence data from five gene regions representing all three plant genomes. Our data support a basal split in Cactaceae between a clade of eight Pereskia species, centered around the Caribbean basin, and all other cacti. Two other Pereskia clades, distributed mostly in the southern half of South America, are part of a major clade comprising Maihuenia plus Cactoideae, and Opuntioideae. This result highlights several events in the early evolution of the cacti. First, during the transition to stem-based photosynthesis, the evolution of stem stomata and delayed bark formation preceded the evolution of the stem cortex into a specialized photosynthetic tissue system. Second, the basal split in cacti separates a northern from an initially southern cactus clade, and the major cactus lineages probably originated in southern or west-central South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brazilian flora is one of the richest in biodiversity and has many species with high pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential. Among these species is ora-pro-nobis (Pereskia aculeata Mill.), which stands out for the high protein content found in its leaves. The exogenous application of amino acids in crop production has shown promising results, such as the increase in productivity and plant quality, besides their capacity in alleviating environmental stress in plants. Exogenous application of L-arginine (0, 0.25, 1.0 and 2.0 g L−1 of water) was performed by drenching on coconut fiber growing media of ora-pro-nobis plants. Plant growth parameters analyzed were chlorophylls and carotenoids contents, crude protein content, and determination of enzymes and oxidative stress substances. The higher concentration of L-arginine (2 g L−1 of water) increased net photosynthetic rate, leaf area, plant fresh and dry mass, carotenoids content and crude protein content in leaves. Thus, the exogenous application of L-arginine in ora-pro-nobis plants can improve both the productivity and nutritional value of its leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on the anatomy, development, and comparative morphology of Cacti. The author informs that only a handful of investigators are involved with structural aspects of the some 150 genera and 2000 species that constitute the family Cactaceae. In the absence of a fossil record, the immediate ancestors of Cactaceae within the Caryophyllales remain obscure. It is stated that in their evolution as stem succulents, the cacti have exploited the leaf base and, except for members of the pereskia and opuntia tribes, have reduced the leaf blade and petiole to insignificance.

The genus Pereskia, which contains numerous morphological features considered relictual in the Cactaceae, has numerous anatomical features that we consider to be relictual also. These were studied to establish a basis for determining the ways that morphogenic mechanisms and anatomical characters diversified as the family evolved. These Pereskia features may be relictual in the family: epidermis predominantly unistratose and lacking crystals; hypodermis absent or of about three layers of weakly collenchymatous cells with druses; cortex thin and predominantly parenchyma with druses and mucilage cells but lacking cortical bundles; secondary phloem without early differentiation of sclerenchyma but with secondary sclereids developing later, either idioblastically or in clusters; ergastic substances lacking from old secondary phloem; wood with a matrix of libriform fibers (mostly septate and nucleate), scanty paratracheal parenchyma, vessels solitary or in small clusters, perforations simple, pitting circular, oval or very broad; wide-band tracheids absent; ray cells slightly thick-walled, lignified, upright, isodiametric or procumbent; all primary rays narrow; pith without medullary bundles; leaves lacking hypodermis, with only weak development of palisade mesophyll; veins of four orders, strongly distinct in size, none with fibers; vessels in leaves narrower than those in stems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For cacti with persistent, relatively large leaves, most shoot CO2 uptake under well-watered conditions occurs by the leaves using the C3 pathway. For three species in the primitive subfamily Pereskioideae, droughts of 7 or 14 days decreased leaf daytime net CO2 uptake by an average of 49 and 88%, respectively; these species always-had a net CO2 release at night by the leaves and both at night and during the day by the stems. For three leafy species in subfamily Opuntioideae, 7 and 14 days of drought reduced leaf daytime net CO2 uptake by 90 and 100%, respectively. Although drought reduced the total CO2 uptake over 24 h, the average percentage occurring at night by the leaves of these species increased from 5% under wet conditions to 71% after 7 days of drought to 99% after 14 days of drought. For two of the three species of Opuntioideae, 7 days of drought caused the small net CO2 uptake by the stems to shift from the daytime to the nighttime, while for the third species drought caused a reduction of its stem nocturnal net CO2 uptake. Thus, shifts from predominantly daytime to predominantly nighttime net CO2 uptake can be induced by drought for the leaves and the stems of leafy cacti in subfamily Opuntioideae, indicating a high degree of biochemical versatility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pereskia marcanoi is newly described from the rocky hillsides of Cerro San Francisco (Bánica), western Dominican Republic. With three other species from Hispaniola and Cuba, this new taxon forms a unique group of functionally dioecious Pereskia species native to the West Indies. Some important diagnostic characters of the members of this group are contrasted in key form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of ora‐pro‐nobis (Pereskia aculeata Mill.) flour on the adhesion of probiotics to intestinal epithelial cells and to evaluate the effect of a product based on this flour on gastrointestinal symptoms, weight, body fat, glycemia, and lipid profile in overweight men. Methods: Microbiological counts (probiotic count, survival after in vitro gastrointestinal resistance, Caco‐2 cell adhesion) were analyzed. A randomized, cross‐over intervention was performed. Intestinal microbiota was indirectly assessed on the basis of consistency, color of feces, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Results: P. aculeata did not affect Lactobacillus casei adhesion to Caco‐2 cells. Ora‐pro‐nobis flour improved gastrointestinal symptoms and increased satiety. Conclusion: The consumption of ora‐pro‐nobis flour improved intestinal health. In addition, it maintained the high adherence of L. casei to intestinal cells as well as patient anthropometric and biochemical parameters. Practical applications: Pereskia aculeata Mill. is well known in folk medicine and has several nutrients; however, there are few studies on this plant. This is the first study to analyze the influence of P. aculeata on bacterial adherence and the first cross‐over clinical trial to evaluate the beneficial potential of ora‐pro‐nobis flour in overweight men. Thus, this study will contribute to the promotion of ora‐pro‐nobis as a functional ingredient and will arouse the interest of industries to develop related healthy foods. In addition, it is an effective dietary strategy to improve the gastrointestinal health of men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]