## 1 Introduction  
In 2018, global statistics showed that the number of people with diabetes mellitus has quadrupled in the past three decades, and this chronic condition is nowadays the ninth major cause of death. About one in 11 adults worldwide now has diabetes mellitus, 90% of whom have type 2 diabetes mellitus [1]. When the patient in diabetic condition consumes high-calorie meals, could reach extremely high peaks in postprandial glucose and lipids, and these levels can produce inflammation and endothelial dysfunction caused by the generation of reactive oxygen species [2]. Postprandial glucose homeostasis is not only controlled by insulin release but also depends on incetin hormones (glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide), and these characteristics make it a difficult metabolic disorder to control [3]. There are several therapeutic strategies for the control of the level of postprandial glucose, such as changes in diet, exercise, and ingestion of oral hypoglycemic drugs (acarbose, miglitol, and voglibose) [4]. In recent years, research on health, nutrition, and foods has been focused on natural origin products whose functionality allows improving and even preventing the increase in glucose levels [3]. The treatment of diabetes can be developed through different approaches, such as inhibiting enzymatic activities, specifically, the inhibition of \(\alpha\)-glucosidase and \(\alpha\)-amylase [5; 6]. Several enzyme inhibitors have been isolated from plants or fruits used as alternative treatments for diabetes mellitus [7; 8; 9].  
Xoconostle is a reproductive structure (fruit) of prickly pear (_Opuntia_ spp.) [10]. Cactus pear acid fruits have been used for medicinal purposes since the pre-Columbian era for the treatment of various diseases; currently, it is still used in traditional Mexican medicine [11]. There are about fifteen recognized species of xoconostle, but other species producing xoconostle have been found, and they could number 20 or more, all endemic to Mexico, the most commonly used species reported for this purpose include the wild \(O\). _joconostle_, _O. leucotricha_, and _O. streptacantha_, and the cultivated \(O\). _ficus-indica Mill_ and \(O\). _matudae Scheinvar_[4; 12]. Cactus acid fruits \"xoconostle\" are, in general, characterized by high contents of antioxidant compounds, such as ascorbic acid, vitamin E, polyunsaturated fatty acids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, carotenoids, and betacyanins [12]. The flavonoids can bind to biological polymer enzymes [13] and inhibit \(\alpha\)-amylase and \(\alpha\)-glucosidase [14; 15]. Several _in vitro_ digestion models have been developed to evaluate the potential inhibitor of bioactive compounds, such as phenols and flavonoids, against digestive carbohydrates [16]. However, to our knowledge, there are no reports of inhibition in vitro assay focused on different parts of the fruit of xoconostle. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential for enzymatic inhibition of extracts from cactus acid fruit, by applying _in vitro_ assays against two carbohydrates (\(\alpha\)-amylase and \(\alpha\)-glucosidase) in simulated intestinal conditions.