Botany
Dilang-baka is a cactaceous, fleshy, erect. branched, leafless plant, 1 to 3 meters high. Stems are stout, with thick joints, oblong-ovate, green, fleshy, compressed, 15 to 25 centimeters long, with small, scattered, white cushion-like bodies which are unarmed or may bear small spines. Calyx is green. fleshy, oblong-ovoid, 3 to 8.5 centimeters long. Corolla is red, about 2.5 centimeters long. Fruit is ovoid, about 3.5 centimeters long, fleshy and purplish.

Distribution
- Planted in the Philippines, here and there, for ornamental purposes.
- Naturalized in some regions subject to long dry seasons.
- Introduced from tropical America.

Properties
- Tonic, refreshing, antihelmintic.
- Considered anti-inflammatory, analgesic, stomach-protective.

Parts used
Joints.

Uses
Edibility / Nutrition
- Both fruit and pads are edible after removing the spines.
- Avoid the spine and any cactus part with white sap.
- Fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and has a raspberry like flavor.
- Thornless pads are peeled, eaten raw, cooked, or added to salads.
- Pads are rich in vitamin A
Folkloric
• In Mexico, joints applied as poultices to relieve articular rheumatism, erysipelas, earaches and toothaches.
• In India, used for pain and inflammation.
• Used for menopause and hot flashes.
• In Tobago and Trinidad, used for scorpion and snake bites, diabetes, hypertension, kidney and urinary problems.
• In Mexico, joints are applied as poultices for rheumatism, erysipelas, ophthalmia, earaches and toothaches.
• Split pads are emollient, used as poultices for rheumatism; backed for ulcers, gout and wounds. Also, used for warts, kidney problems, measles, and as vermifuge for gastrointestinal parasites.
Others
• Veterinary: In Trinidad and Tobago, used in ethnoveterinary medicine for joint problems in horses.
• New Age drink: In the unending search for longevity through the all-natural and herbal, post-Noni juice and post-Mangostan, the new drink in the herbal-block, ready to drink, thorn-free, spine-free - Sonoran Bloom Nopalea.

Studies
• Diabetes Studies / Increase Blood Glucose Effect: Studies have failed to find support for its traditional use in the treatment of diabetes. Moreover, in one study, there was even an increase in baseline blood glucose levels. An oral glucose tolerance test showed the stems of NC increased blood glucose in mice.
• Reproductive: Studies show limited support for use in reproductive problems.
• Antibacterial / Antifungal: Study showed the cactus possesses antibiotic activity against C albicans, E coli and Salmonella enterica var typhimurium. The hexanic and chloroformic fractions of dried NC were more effective than fresh pads in inhibiting C albicans growth.

Availability
Ornamental cultivation.
Seeds and plants in the cybermarket.