Question 1

What is Opuntia dillenii used for in ayurvedic medicine?

Accepted Answer

In Sri Lanka's ayurvedic tradition, Opuntia dillenii is used in preparations addressing inflammatory skin conditions, digestive complaints, and wound healing. The cladode pulp is applied topically as a cooling poultice, while the fruit pulp is consumed for its nutritive and antioxidant properties. These uses are rooted in traditional knowledge and should be explored with a qualified ayurvedic practitioner.

Question 2

Is Opuntia dillenii native to Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

No, Opuntia dillenii is originally native to the Americas and belongs to the cactus family Cactaceae. It was introduced to tropical and subtropical regions across the world — including Sri Lanka — and has since naturalised in dry-zone areas of the island. Despite being a non-native species, it has been incorporated into local traditional medicine systems over many generations.

Question 3

Can you eat the fruit of Opuntia dillenii?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the ripe fruit is edible and has a mildly sweet taste. The outer skin must be removed carefully to avoid glochids — tiny hair-like spines — before the inner pulp can be consumed fresh, juiced, or processed into preserves. In dry-zone communities of Sri Lanka, the fruit is harvested seasonally as a local food.

Question 4

Where does Opuntia dillenii grow in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

It is most commonly found in the dry lowland zones of Sri Lanka, including parts of the Northern, North Central, Eastern, and Southern provinces. The plant favours well-drained, rocky, or sandy soils and is often seen on roadsides, coastal margins, and disturbed scrubland.

Question 5

Is Opuntia dillenii an invasive plant?

Accepted Answer

In many parts of the world, Opuntia dillenii is classified as invasive due to its rapid spread through seed dispersal and vegetative propagation. In Sri Lanka it occupies mixed status — useful to some communities as a medicinal and food plant, but monitored by conservation managers in dry-zone habitats where it can crowd out native vegetation.

Question 6

What active compounds are found in Opuntia dillenii?

Accepted Answer

Phytochemical studies have identified flavonoids, phenolic acids, betalain pigments, mucilaginous polysaccharides, and fatty acids in different parts of the plant. These compounds are associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity in laboratory research, though large-scale clinical evidence in humans remains limited.

Question 7

How do I handle Opuntia dillenii safely?

Accepted Answer

The plant carries both large, hard spines and small glochids — fine barbed structures that detach on contact and embed in skin. Always use thick gloves or folded cloth when harvesting the fruit or cladodes. If glochids embed in skin, a strip of adhesive tape applied and removed quickly is one common method for extracting them.