Night-Blooming Cereus

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Mexico, AI, AU, BM, BR, CK, CO, CU

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Parasiticide, Caustic, Vermifuge

Science studied: ASCORBIC-ACID, ASH, BETA-CAROTENE, IRON

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Cactaceae

Scientific name: Hylocereus undatus

Common names: Night-Blooming Cereus, Nopalito De Noche, Strawberry Pear, Belle-of-the-Night, Queen-of-the-Night, Belle of the Night, Chacam, Chak-Wob, Cierge-lézard, Distelbirne, Dragon Fruit, Fruit du dragon, Junco Tapatio, Night blooming Cereus, Nightblooming cactus, Pitahaya, Pitahaya Blanco, Pitahaya Orejona, Pitahaya orejona, Pitaya, Pitaya blanc, Poire de chardon, Queen of the Night, Reina de la Noche

History

The source record documents this plant in Mexico, AI, AU, BM, BR, CK, CO, CU and 2 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Parasiticide
• Caustic
• Vermifuge

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Mexico
• AI
• AU
• BM
• BR
• CK
• CO
• CU
• CY
• ES

Documented cultural uses

• Parasiticide
• Caustic
• Vermifuge

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Parasiticide · Mexico · "
• Caustic · Mexico · "
• Vermifuge · Mexico · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and growth-promoting effects of Hylocereus undatus peel powder in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeusvannamei). · 2026 source ↗
• Mineral Element Fingerprints of Guizhou Hylocereus undatus · 2025 source ↗
• Control of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum truncatum on dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) using recombinant chitinase. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ASCORBIC-ACID
• ASH
• BETA-CAROTENE
• IRON
• NIACIN
• PROTEIN
• THIAMIN
• WATER
• CARBOHYDRATES
• FIBER
• CALCIUM
• PHOSPHORUS
• KILOCALORIES
• RIBOFLAVIN
• FAT
• BETA-SITOSTEROL

Legality

CITES: Appendix II

II — FAMILY listing Cactaceae spp. — Except the species included in Appendix I and except Pereskia spp., Pereskiopsis spp. and Quiabentia spp. Artificially propagated specimens of the following hybrids and/or cultivars are not subject to the provisions of the Convention: Hatiora x graeseri ; Schlumbergera x buckleyi ; Schlumbergera russelliana x Schlumbergera truncata ; Schlumbergera orssichiana x Schlumbergera truncata ; Schlumbergera opuntioides x Schlumbergera truncata ; Schlumbergera truncata (cultivars); Cactaceae spp. colour mutants grafted on the following grafting stocks Harrisia 'Jusbertii', Hylocereus trigonus or Hylocereus undatus ; Opuntia microdasys (cultivars). — 05/03/2026

View the Species+ record ↗

This is an international trade listing, not a complete statement of country-specific law.

Reference images

Sources

Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases · CC0

GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0

Species+ / CITES Checklist · Species+ / CITES checklist terms

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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