Nopal (Prickly Pear Cactus)
Also called prickly pear cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica, nopales, cactus pear, Indian fig opuntia, nopal cactus extract.
Best grade C across 8 graded outcomes Botanical Last checked
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The short answer
From 11 sourcesNopal, the prickly pear cactus pad, is eaten as a vegetable in Mexico and sold as a supplement for blood sugar. Small studies show lower glucose after meals, and a 60-person trial found nopal fiber eased IBS symptoms for a week. A 64-person trial reported fewer severe hangovers. Several trials involved the product's maker, and no agency has reviewed its safety.
Quick pick
From a partner brand · paid link
Planetary Herbals Nopal Cactus Full Spectrum, 1,000 mg, 60 tablets
from HerbsPro
Label: 1 tablet: 1 g prickly pear leaf, 27 mg calcium (label).
Best for trying one bottle: $10.33 one-time (checked Oct 15, 2026).
Every graded outcome on this page
8 rows · line = participants- CGrade CGut microbiota and digestive comfortGut microbiomen 80
- CGrade CBlood lipids in women with metabolic syndromeLipidsn 68
- CGrade CHangover severity after drinkingHangovern 64
- CGrade CAdequate relief of IBS symptomsIBSn 60
- DGrade DJoint range of motion in adults with chronic painJointsn 40
- DGrade DBlood glucose after a glucose drink and over 16 weeks in prediabetesBlood glucosen 29
- DGrade DGlucose and insulin after breakfast in type 2 diabetesBlood glucosen 21
- DGrade DBlood glucose after a glucose drink, at rest and after exerciseBlood glucosen 6
- 5 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter
Key facts
- What it is
- Pads (cladodes) of Opuntia cacti, usually Opuntia ficus-indica, traditionally eaten as a vegetable; supplements also use fruit and fruit-skin extracts36
- Blood sugar
- Small studies of whole nopal or extracts lowered glucose after a meal or glucose drink; a 16-week extract trial found no lasting change567
- Gut
- 20 to 30 g/day of nopal fiber gave more IBS symptom relief than placebo over one week (60 patients)2
- Hangover
- A crossover trial in 64 young adults reported half the risk of a severe hangover with an Opuntia ficus-indica extract1
What it is
Nopal is the edible pad (cladode) of the prickly pear cactus, mainly Opuntia ficus-indica; supplements use dried pads, fruit or skin extracts.
How it works
ProposedNopal pads are a source of soluble and insoluble fiber, which may slow sugar absorption; one study found a low glycaemic index (32.5) and smaller insulin and GIP responses. A cladode and fruit-skin extract raised insulin after a glucose drink in a 6-person study, and an Opuntia extract was followed by lower C-reactive protein after drinking alcohol.1267
Forms, side by side
3 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.
Nopal (Prickly Pear Cactus) forms compared
3 forms| 3 forms | Whole nopal pads (food) or dried pad powder | Nopal fiber powder | Standardised cladode, fruit or fruit-skin extracts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absorption in people | No human absorption data in our sources; glycaemic index of dehydrated nopal measured at 32.5.6 | No change in breath hydrogen or stool short-chain fatty acids at 10 to 30 g/day.2 | No human absorption data in our sources.1 |
| GI tolerance | No adverse effects reported in the meal study abstract.6 | 30 g/day caused more loose stools than placebo.2 | No blood-chemistry safety changes over 16 weeks in a 29-person extract trial.5 |
| Studied for | Glucose and insulin after meals in type 2 diabetes. | IBS symptom relief over 1 week. | Hangover, post-load glucose, lipids, gut microbiota. |
- Whole nopal pads (food) or dried pad powder
- Nopal fiber powder
- Standardised cladode, fruit or fruit-skin extracts
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
8 graded outcomes, largest study first8 graded outcomes: 7 improved, 1 mixed. The largest, a 2024 randomized trial of 80 people on gut microbiota and digestive comfort, found an improvement.
1Gut microbiota and digestive comfort
Improved · Grade C · RCT, 80 people, 2024
Adults with gut dysbiosis (Italy)
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gut microbiota and digestive comfort | Improved | 80 | Grade C · RCT, 2024 | Adults with gut dysbiosis (Italy) |
| Blood lipids in women with metabolic syndrome | Improved | 68 | Grade C · RCT, 2007 | Women aged 20 to 55 with metabolic syndrome and BMI 25 to 40 (France); 59 completed |
| Hangover severity after drinking | Improved | 64 | Grade C · Crossover RCT, 2004 | Healthy young adults (US); 55 completed both arms |
| Adequate relief of IBS symptoms | Improved | 60 | Grade C · RCT, 2021 | Adults with IBS by Rome IV criteria (Mexico) |
| Joint range of motion in adults with chronic pain | Improved | 40 | Grade D · RCT, 2020 | Otherwise healthy adults with chronic pain (US) |
| Blood glucose after a glucose drink and over 16 weeks in prediabetes | Mixed | 29 | Grade D · RCT, 2010 | Obese adults aged 20 to 50 with prediabetes (US) |
| Glucose and insulin after breakfast in type 2 diabetes | Improved | 21 | Grade D · Open-label trial, 2014 | 7 healthy adults (glycaemic index test) and 14 adults with type 2 diabetes (Mexico) |
| Blood glucose after a glucose drink, at rest and after exercise | Improved | 6 | Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2012 | Healthy, active young men (Belgium) |
Every graded row
8 rowsShowing 8 of 8 outcomes. Human trials only.
CGrade CGut microbiota and digestive comfortGut microbiomeBetter GIQLI/GSAS scores vs placeboRCT
n 80 · 2024
Improved Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio fell and beneficial bacteria rose versus maltodextrin; digestive questionnaire scores improved.
- Design
- RCT, n = 80, 2024
- Population
- Adults with gut dysbiosis (Italy)
- Form
- Odilia Opuntia ficus-indica extract
- Dose
- 300 mg/day
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 4 · PubMed 38474715 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CBlood lipids in women with metabolic syndromeLipidsHDL up vs down on placebo (women over 45)RCT
n 68 · 2007
Improved In women over 45, HDL cholesterol rose with NeOpuntia and fell with placebo; at the end 39% vs 8% no longer met metabolic syndrome criteria.
- Design
- RCT, n = 68, 2007
- Population
- Women aged 20 to 55 with metabolic syndrome and BMI 25 to 40 (France); 59 completed
- Form
- NeOpuntia dehydrated Opuntia ficus-indica leaves
- Dose
- 1.6 g per meal
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Source
- Reference 3 · PubMed 18029338 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CHangover severity after drinkingHangoverSevere hangover OR 0.38Crossover RCT
n 64 · 2004
Improved Nausea, dry mouth and loss of appetite were reduced; the overall symptom index fell 2.7 points (95% CI -0.2 to 5.5, P = .07) and the risk of a severe hangover halved (OR 0.38).
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 64, 2004
- Population
- Healthy young adults (US); 55 completed both arms
- Form
- Opuntia ficus-indica extract
- Dose
- 1,600 IU, 5 hours before drinking
- Duration
- Single dose per arm, 2 weeks apart
- Source
- Reference 1 · PubMed 15226168 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CAdequate relief of IBS symptomsIBSRelief 87% vs 33% (20 g/day)RCT
n 60 · 2021
Improved Adequate relief in 87% at 20 g/day and 80% at 30 g/day vs 33% with placebo; 30 g/day caused more loose stools. No change in breath hydrogen or stool short-chain fatty acids.
- Design
- RCT, n = 60, 2021
- Population
- Adults with IBS by Rome IV criteria (Mexico)
- Form
- Extracted nopal fiber powder
- Dose
- 10, 20 or 30 g/day vs 30 g/day dextrose placebo
- Duration
- 1 week
- Source
- Reference 2 · PubMed 32935904 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DJoint range of motion in adults with chronic painJointsBetter cervical and lumbar range of motionRCT
n 40 · 2020
Improved Neck and back range of motion improved more than with placebo; CRP fell 30% vs rose 31% only in a subgroup with baseline CRP 1 to 9.9 mg/L.
- Design
- RCT, n = 40, 2020
- Population
- Otherwise healthy adults with chronic pain (US)
- Form
- Nopal cactus fruit juice
- Dose
- 3 oz/day
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 8 · PubMed 33328728 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DBlood glucose after a glucose drink and over 16 weeks in prediabetesBlood glucoseAcute drop; no 16-week differenceRCT
n 29 · 2010
Mixed A dose before the glucose drink lowered glucose at 60 to 120 minutes compared with the pre-supplement test, but there were no differences between the extract and placebo groups at 16 weeks.
- Design
- RCT, n = 29, 2010
- Population
- Obese adults aged 20 to 50 with prediabetes (US)
- Form
- OpunDia Opuntia ficus-indica extract
- Dose
- 400 mg before the glucose drink; 200 mg/day for 16 weeks
- Duration
- Single dose and 16 weeks
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 20621660 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DGlucose and insulin after breakfast in type 2 diabetesBlood glucoseGlucose AUC 287 vs 443Open-label trial
n 21 · 2014
Improved Adding nopal to a high-carbohydrate breakfast lowered the glucose area under the curve (287 vs 443) and the insulin response; nopal's glycaemic index was 32.5.
- Design
- Open-label trial, n = 21, 2014
- Population
- 7 healthy adults (glycaemic index test) and 14 adults with type 2 diabetes (Mexico)
- Form
- Steamed or dehydrated whole nopal
- Dose
- 300 g steamed nopal with breakfast
- Duration
- Single meals
- Source
- Reference 6 · PubMed 25132122 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DBlood glucose after a glucose drink, at rest and after exerciseBlood glucoseGlucose AUC -26% at restCrossover RCT
n 6 · 2012
Improved Glucose area under the curve fell 26% at rest and 37% after exercise versus placebo, with higher insulin at rest.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 6, 2012
- Population
- Healthy, active young men (Belgium)
- Form
- Opuntia ficus-indica cladode and fruit-skin extract
- Dose
- 1,000 mg before and after a glucose test
- Duration
- Single sessions
- Source
- Reference 7 · PubMed 22805855 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
Short and small
Industry-run extract trials
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
What Nopal meets
1 cited rowMedicines 1
Supplements and foods 0
No supplement rows in our sources.
- Case reports
Choose a medicine or supplement above to read its cited rows here.
Also cited:
Diabetes medicines
Case reportCase reports
Diabetes medicines, for example glipizide and other sulfonylureas, metformin: A man on glipizide and metformin had four low blood sugar episodes (49–68 mg/dL) after eating raw nopal pads daily for 2 months, rated a probable interaction. In a survey of 804 clinic patients, 8 mild hypoglycaemia cases occurred in people with diabetes taking nopal.
Source 10, Ann Pharmacother (2010); Source 11, Altern Ther Health Med (2007)
Interactions
1 agent| Agent | What the source says | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines1 | ||
| Diabetes medicinese.g. glipizide and other sulfonylureas, metformin | A man on glipizide and metformin had four low blood sugar episodes (49–68 mg/dL) after eating raw nopal pads daily for 2 months, rated a probable interaction. In a survey of 804 clinic patients, 8 mild hypoglycaemia cases occurred in people with diabetes taking nopal.1011 | Case report |
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Nopal and your picks, and between your picks.
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Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Nopal.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
4 groups- People on diabetes medicines
- Nopal lowered glucose after meals in several small studies, and case reports describe low blood sugar when it was combined with diabetes medicines such as glipizide and metformin. NCCIH advises telling your health care providers about any supplement you use.610119
- Digestive effects
- In the IBS trial, 30 g/day of nopal fiber caused more loose stools than placebo.2
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children
- No trial in our sources studied these groups, and NCCIH notes many supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children.9
- Agency coverage
- No ODS, NCCIH, LactMed, LiverTox, Health Canada or EMA source in our review covers nopal supplements specifically.9
How to read the label
What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.
How to read the label
2 checksPad, fruit or skin
Where to buy Nopal (Prickly Pear Cactus)
Products from brands we partner with that contain Nopal (Prickly Pear Cactus). Check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
Nopal (Prickly Pear Cactus) products from partner brands
1 product Paid links · we earn a commission- Quick pickHerbsProPlanetary Herbals Nopal Cactus Full Spectrum, 1,000 mg, 60 tablets
1 tablet: 1 g prickly pear leaf, 27 mg calcium (label)
$10.33one-timeChecked Oct 15, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
6 answersDoes nopal lower blood sugar?
Does prickly pear help hangovers?
One crossover trial in 64 young adults found an Opuntia ficus-indica extract halved the risk of a severe hangover and reduced nausea and dry mouth, though the overall symptom score was not significantly lower.1
Does nopal help IBS?
In a one-week trial of 60 IBS patients, 20 g/day of nopal fiber gave adequate relief to 87% vs 33% on placebo. Longer trials are needed.2
Is nopal safe?
Can nopal be combined with diabetes medicines?
Sources
11 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
11 sources- 1Effect of Opuntia ficus indica on symptoms of the alcohol hangover.Crossover RCT Arch Intern Med, 2004 · PMID 15226168
- 2Nopal fiber (Opuntia ficus-indica) improves symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome in the short term: a randomized controlled trial.RCT Neurogastroenterol Motil, 2021 · PMID 32935904
- 3The effect of NeOpuntia on blood lipid parameters--risk factors for the metabolic syndrome (syndrome X).RCT Adv Ther, 2007 · PMID 18029338
- 4A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial: Efficacy of Opuntia ficus-indica Prebiotic Supplementation in Subjects with Gut Dysbiosis.RCT Nutrients, 2024 · PMID 38474715
- 5Acute blood glucose lowering effects and long-term safety of OpunDia supplementation in pre-diabetic males and females.RCT J Ethnopharmacol, 2010 · PMID 20621660
- 6The effect of nopal (Opuntia ficus indica) on postprandial blood glucose, incretins, and antioxidant activity in Mexican patients with type 2 diabetes after consumption of two different composition breakfasts.Open-label trial J Acad Nutr Diet, 2014 · PMID 25132122
- 7Opuntia ficus-indica ingestion stimulates peripheral disposal of oral glucose before and after exercise in healthy men.Crossover RCT Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 2012 · PMID 22805855
- 8Improved Joint Mobility Associated with Reduced Inflammation Related to Consumption of Nopal Cactus Fruit Juice: Results from a Placebo-Controlled Trial Using Digital Inclinometry to Objectively Document Mobility of All Major Joints.RCT Clin Interv Aging, 2020 · PMID 33328728
- 9Using Dietary Supplements WiselyFact sheet National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2019 · nccih.nih.gov
- 10Probable hypoglycemic adverse drug reaction associated with prickly pear cactus, glipizide, and metformin in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Observational Ann Pharmacother, 2010 · PMID 20516361
- 11Adverse interactions between herbal and dietary substances and prescription medications: a clinical survey.Observational Altern Ther Health Med, 2007 · PMID 17405676
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
2 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| interactions, who should be careful, FAQ | Added the published nopal–diabetes medicine interaction: a probable hypoglycaemia case with glipizide and metformin (PMID 20516361) and a clinic survey with 8 mild hypoglycaemia cases (PMID 17405676), plus a FAQ. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z page audit |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title, year, journal; none retracted) and each cited abstract read; numbers taken from the abstracts. Funding and industry ties disclosed: Bioserae (NeOpuntia, author e-mail), Bionap and Complife employees (Odilia), TriVita sponsorship (juice trial); NIH/NHLBI (hangover) and UK MRC (IBS) grants per PubMed; not stated in the other abstracts. No agency covers nopal, so safety text cites NCCIH's Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Where to buy: Planetary Herbals Nopal Cactus 1,000 mg (label checked 2026-10-15). | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.