Steinmetz:Opuntia

General Index (総索引)

Medicinal Effect (薬効一覧)

Opuntia (species)

Also known as (or relevant to) Opuntia (species) Family Cactaceae English Names Barberry Natural Habitat Central America Southern Europe (mainly Italy) North Africa South Africa. Part(s) Used Fructus Coccionella (the dried female insect, see below)

Constituent(s) fruit: sugar; Coccionella: carmin-acid (red colouring matter) Action fruit: astringent used in diarrhoea and dysentery. The species Opuntia vulgaris produce the famous Prickly Pear which is a luxury for the Americans This species is cultivated in Central America on which plant the cochineal insect (Coccus cacti) is fed so valuable for producing the fine scarlet dye. This insect is also fed on Opuntia coccionellifera