Bleogens and antifungal activity
Loo and colleagues described peptides named bleogens. The pB1 studied consists of 36 amino acids and contains six cysteine residues that form disulphide bridges. These bonds stabilise its three-dimensional structure. Analysis of the precursors revealed different arrangements of the sequences from which the plant produces mature peptides. [Loo et al. 2017]
pB1 inhibited Candida growth in laboratory tests. This result concerns a specific isolated molecule and the experimental conditions. A later review also covers other microproteins, so the activities of different bleogens need to be attributed to the appropriate compounds. Studying the peptide does not assess the effectiveness of eating leaves or consuming a homemade extract. [Loo et al. 2017][Niu et al. 2026]
Studies of extracts and blood glucose
Afzal and colleagues studied leaf extracts in rats with alloxan-induced diabetes. The experiment involved small groups of animals and administration of preparations over several days. The observed changes in blood glucose constitute a preliminary preclinical result. The study does not investigate treatment in humans, long-term effectiveness or the safety of consuming such extracts. [Afzal et al. 2025]
Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus extracts
Under laboratory conditions, a methanolic extract inhibited the growth of organisms including Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis and Microsporum gypseum. The study does not assess treatment effectiveness or the safety of consuming the plant. [Rodríguez Garza et al. 2010]
Ariocarpus retusus extracts
A methanolic extract inhibited the growth of Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis and the Microsporum fungi tested. These were in vitro experiments, without assessment of therapeutic effects in humans. They do not confirm the suitability of the plant for consumption. [Rodríguez Garza et al. 2010]
Based on scientific publications. The scope of the experiments is stated alongside the results.
Bleogens: Cactus-Derived Anti-Candida Cysteine-Rich Peptides with Three Different Precursor Arrangements
Loo S., Kam A., Xiao T., Tam J. P., Bleogens: Cactus-Derived Anti-Candida Cysteine-Rich Peptides with Three Different Precursor Arrangements, Frontiers in Plant Science, 2017, 8:2162, doi: 10.3389/fpls.2017.02162
The paper identifies cysteine-rich peptides in Leuenbergeria bleo (Pereskia bleo in the publication). It presents laboratory results for a specific molecule's activity against Candida.
Chemical Diversity in Leuenbergeria bleo: From Small-Molecule Phytochemicals to Bioactive Microproteins
Niu J., Bai Y., Du C., Kam A., Loo S., Chemical Diversity in Leuenbergeria bleo: From Small-Molecule Phytochemicals to Bioactive Microproteins, Processes, 2026, 14(4):692, doi: 10.3390/pr14040692
The review organises small molecules and bioactive microproteins of Leuenbergeria bleo. It discusses individual bleogens, activity-testing methods and traditional plant uses.
Short-term Antihyperglycemic and Weight Modulation Effects of Leuenbergeria bleo (Kunth) Lodé: Phytochemical Screening and in vivo Assessment in an Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rat Model
Afzal S., Venkata Sathya Sai Appalaraju V., Attiq A., Malik I., Albokhadaim I., M Alhojaily S., Seng Wu Y., A Almofty Y., Omer Alameen A., Aljabl G., Short-term Antihyperglycemic and Weight Modulation Effects of Leuenbergeria bleo (Kunth) Lodé: Phytochemical Screening and in vivo Assessment in an Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rat Model, Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 2025, 24(1):e164873, doi: 10.5812/ijpr-164873
The short experiment assesses Leuenbergeria bleo leaf extracts in rats with alloxan-induced diabetes. The publication presents preclinical results in small animal groups.
Actividad antibacteriana y antifúngica de las especies Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus (Lemaire) y Ariocarpus retusus (Scheidweiler) (Cactaceae)
Rodríguez Garza R. G., Morales R. M. E., Verde S. M. J., Oranday C. A., Rivas M. C., Núñez G. M. A., González G. G. M., Treviño N. J. F., Actividad antibacteriana y antifúngica de las especies Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus (Lemaire) y Ariocarpus retusus (Scheidweiler) (Cactaceae), Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, 2010, 41(1):55-59
The screening study assesses methanolic extracts of two species in bacterial and fungal cultures. Results present microorganism-dependent in vitro activity.