Pectin: A Bioactive Food Polysaccharide with Cancer Preventive Potential

Abstract

Pectin is an acidic heteropolysaccharide found in the cell walls and the primary and middle lamella of land plants. To be authorized as a food additive, industrial pectins must meet strict guidelines set forth by the Food and Agricultural Organization and must contain at least 65% polygalacturonic acid to achieve the E440 level. Fruit pectin derived from oranges or apples is commonly used in the food industry to gel or thicken foods and to stabilize acid-based milk beverages. It is a naturally occurring component and can be ingested by dietary consumption of fruit and vegetables. Preventing long-term chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease is an important role of dietary carbohydrates. Colon and breast cancer are among the diseases for which data suggest that modified pectin (MP), specifically modified citrus pectin (MCP), has beneficial effects on the development and spread of malignancies, in addition to its benefits as a soluble dietary fiber. Cellular and animal studies and human clinical trials have provided corroborating data. Although pectin has many diverse functional qualities, this review focuses on various modifications used to develop MP and its benefits for cancer prevention, bioavailability, clinical trials, and toxicity studies. This review concludes that pectin has anti-cancer characteristics that have been found to inhibit tumor development and proliferation in a wide variety of cancer cells. Nevertheless, further clinical and basic research is required to confirm the chemopreventive or therapeutic role of specific dietary carbohydrate molecules.

Anticancer Mechanism of Astragalus Polysaccharide and Its Application in Cancer Immunotherapy

“…Pectin mainly produces reactive oxygen species to induce apoptosis, which is the opposite mechanism of action of APS [244]. Pectin is widely used as a gelling agent in jams and preserves by the food industry, whereas APS is mainly found in dietary supplements and traditional medicine [23,245].…”

“…In addition to their benefits as soluble dietary fibers, modified pectins, particularly modified citrus pectins, have beneficial effects on the development and spread of malignant tumors, including colon and breast cancer [245]. Pectin-derived chemicals slow cell development and promote apoptosis [246].…”

The Risk of Breast Cancer between Western and Mediterranean Dietary Patterns

“…Pectin may also help prevent the reabsorption of bile salt micelles, although the exact mechanism is not fully understood [146,147]. Studies have found that pectin and its derivatives may suppress cancer cell growth and stimulate apoptosis [148,149]. When combined with other plant compounds, pectin has demonstrated the ability to decrease the invasive potential of human breast cancer cells.…”

Recent Advances in the Extraction of Pectin from Various Sources and Industrial Applications

“…Pectin has the ability to detect Gal-3 components, which is one of the major mechanisms governing cancer growth and metastasis. Citrus pectin was employed to target Gal3, which successfully inhibited metastatic growth …”

“…Citrus pectin was employed to target Gal3, which successfully inhibited metastatic growth. 95 4.3. Pectin as a Rheology Modifier.…”