Abstract. Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill, commonly called prickly pear or nopal cactus, belongs to the Cactaceae family.Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill is a dicotyledonous angiosperm plant, known, since the dawn of time, for its ability to thrive under environments recognized as stressful for most plant species.Opuntia ficus-indica has been used for a long time as diet, fodder, and beverage for ...