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The Biological Activities and Chemical Composition of Pereskia Species (Cactaceae)—A Review

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Abstract

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.

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  1. Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Products. Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biological Science of Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG 36036 900, Brazil

    Nícolas de Castro Campos Pinto & Elita Scio

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  1. Nícolas de Castro Campos Pinto
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  2. Elita Scio
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Correspondence to Elita Scio.

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de Castro Campos Pinto, N., Scio, E. The Biological Activities and Chemical Composition of Pereskia Species (Cactaceae)—A Review. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 69, 189–195 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-014-0423-z

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