Cactaceae

The Cactaceae family belongs to the order Caryophyllales within the class Magnoliopsida. It is primarily distributed in the tropical, subtropical, and arid desert regions of the Americas, and has been introduced and cultivated in China. Most plants in this family are succulents that possess both ornamental and medicinal value; certain species can be used medicinally and are effective in clearing heat, detoxifying, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. Among them, the cactus is used medicinally; the medicinal part is the succulent stem, which can treat sore throats, abscesses, and skin infections. It can be taken internally as a decoction or applied externally as a poultice. To date, natural compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides have been isolated from this family, offering broad prospects for application.