Studying the effect of Opuntia ficus- indica juice on female rats with fibromyalgia - like condition

Background: Fibromyalgia  (FM) is a disorder characterized by widespread pain throughout the body, accompanied by other symptoms such as fatigue, sleep, mood disturbances, and cognitive dysfunction. Opuntia ficus-indica widely recognized as prickly pear, it distributed in many areas of the world because of its  agronomic, and ecological benefits, besides its large amounts of functional, nutraceutical, and biological activities. Obgective: The main objective of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of Opuntia ficus-indica  juice on a fibromyalgia-like condition induced by reserpine in female rats. twenty-five female rats were randomly divided into five equal groups  (n=5 rats of each)  as follow, negative control group  and positive control group were fed only on the basal diet, while groups 3,4 and 5 were fed on basal diet and given orally Opuntia ficus-indica juice  OFIJ for the experiential period  8 weeks at a dose of 100, 150 and 200 ml/kg of body weight, for all rats respectively, from the fourth week of the experiential period groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were injected with reserpine for consecutive 3 days to induce fibromyalgia-like condition. Materials and Methods: the facial expression  eye, nose, ear and whisker  and analgesic effect of Opuntia ficus-indica on rats were determined, at the end of the experimental period 8weeks,  Biochemical analysis was performed to the serum concentration of  MDA and antioxidants enzymes. Histopathological of thighs muscles in rats were examined. Results : showed that groups fibromyalgia-like condition female rats ,  fed on basal diet and given orally Opuntia ficus-indica juice  OFIJ   had significant improvement  of body weight gain, significantly reduced in malondialdehyde MDA while the antioxidants enzymes SOD , GPx , GSH and CAT were significantly  increased compared to fibromyalgia-like condition female rats. accompanied by groups fibromyalgia-like condition female rats ,  fed on basal diet and given orally Opuntia ficus-indica juice OFIJ had a significant improvement Facial expression  compared to fibromyalgia-like condition female rats . In addition Histopathological examination showed an obvious improvement in myocytes  tissues of  fibromyalgia-like condition female rats ,  fed on basal diet and given orally Opuntia ficus-indica juice  OFIJ. Conclusio: Finally, the existing study illustrated that  Opuntia ficus-indica   juice might improve  the fibromyalgia-like condition in rats.