Anti-cancer activities of pH- or heat-modified pectin

Abstract

Despite enormous efforts that have been made in the search for novel drugs and treatments, cancer continues to be a major public health problem. Moreover, the emergence of resistance to cancer chemotherapy often prevents complete remission. Researchers have thus turned to natural products mainly from plant origin to circumvent resistance. Pectin and pH- or heat-modified pectin have demonstrated chemopreventive and antitumoral activities against some aggressive and recurrent cancers. The focus of this review is to describe how pectin and modified pectin display these activities and what are the possible underlying mechanisms. The failure of conventional chemotherapy to reduce mortality as well as serious side effects make natural products, such as pectin-derived products, ideal candidates for exerting synergism in combination with conventional anticancer drugs.

The Role of Soluble, Insoluble Fibers and Their Bioactive Compounds in Cancer: A Mini Review

“…Pectin is family of complex polysaccharide possessing anti-tumorgenesis properties, especially in modified forms, as the different chains that compose this soluble fiber suppress expression of tumor facilitators [65]. Pectin, as dietary fiber, pH modified, and modified chain has been found to show anti-tumor activity [65].…”

“…Pectin, as dietary fiber, pH modified, and modified chain has been found to show anti-tumor activity [65]. Pectin is fermented in colon producing short fatty acid chains; such as, acetate, propionate and butyrate, these fiber chains also bind to other minerals and bile acid, eliminating them and reducing toxicity [66].…”

Therapeutic and pharmaceutical benefits of native and modified plant pectin

“…The effect is due to either preferential growth of good colonic bacteria such as Biffidobacteria and Lactobacillus over the bad bugs or due to little antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli as observed in in vitro studies. Incidences of intestinal infections are also lower (Leclere et al, 2013;Gama et al, 2015). Influence of pectin on gastric emptying time and rate of digestion can be used to exert beneficial effects during treatment of eating disorders.…”

“…Detoxifying capacity can be exploited by using pectin as prebiotics (Tyagi et al, 2015). It can effectively chelate and remove lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium from gastrointestinal tract (GIT) via urinary excretion and has shown evidence of increasing fecal clearance of 137 Cs, a radioisotope produced during uranium fission (Leclere et al, 2013). These toxic heavy metal ions have higher affinity for pectin with low degree of esterification as compared to essential ions like calcium, magnesium and zinc.…”

“…High viscosity and gelling behavior of pectin in aqueous medium retards the absorption of food from gastrointestinal tract by acting as a barrier between the digestive enzymes and food molecules and also through immobilization of food components in the intestine. Food consumption is also reduced due to ability of pectin to absorb large volumes of water producing a feeling of satiety (Leclere et al, 2013). Duodenal and gastric ulcers may also be treated by administration of a mixture of LM-pectin, aluminium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide (Ogunka-Nnonka and Atinlikou, 2016).…”