Inhibitory Activity of Aromadendrin from Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) Root on Aldose Reductase and the Formation of Advanced Glycation End Products

Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) is a long-domesticated crop plant of arid and semiarid parts of the world. The efficacy of extracts of prickly pear root for managing diabetes and diabetes complications was evaluated using a variety of in vitro bioassays. The ethyl acetate-soluble fraction was most effective in the prevention of diabetes and its complications via the inhibition of rat lens aldose reductase activity, the formation of advanced glycation end products, and alpha-glucosidase activity. MS and NMR were used to identify the bioactive compound from the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction as 3,5,7,4'-tetrahydroxyflavanone (aromadendrin).