Superior Antibacterial Activity of Integral Lemon Pectin From Hydrodynamic Cavitation

Abstract

Pectin extracted via hydrodynamic cavitation in water only from waste lemon peel and further isolated via freeze drying displays significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram positive pathogen which easily contaminates food. The antibacterial effect of the new IntegroPectin is largely superior to that of commercial citrus pectin, opening the way to advanced applications of a new bioproduct now obtainable in large amounts and at low cost from citrus juice industry’s waste.

Exceptional Antioxidant, Non-Cytotoxic Activity of Integral Lemon Pectin from Hydrodynamic Cavitation

“…Preliminary observation of the antimicrobial activity of IntegroPectin ( Figure 6) was lately confirmed identifying its remarkable activity against Staphylococcus aureus [22]. Hydrodynamic cavitation, in conclusion, is one of the enabling technologies of the emerging lemon bioeconomy [23].…”

Towards a new treatment against polymicrobial infections: high antibacterial activity of lemon IntegroPectin againstPseudomonas aeruginosaandEscherichia coli

“…The same lemon IntPec was recently shown to exert significant activity in vitro against S. aureus virulent strains. [11] It is therefore of direct relevance to this account the fact that Gram-positive S. aureus is often present in conjunction to P. aeruginosa forming hazardous polymicrobial complex communities particularly resistant to antibiotics. [19] Originally reported in the late 1930s, [20] the antibacterial properties of pectin were rediscovered in the late 1990s by scholars in Russia.…”

“…Taking into account the complete lack of cytotoxicity of citrus IntPec against human lung cells at the aforementioned concentration (1 mg mL -1 ), [13] and the antibacterial activity of lemon IntPec against Gram-positive S. aureus, [11] these results may open the route to the industrial development a new antibacterial treatment against polymicrobial infections based on a new bioproduct reproducibly and economically obtained in large amounts from the main citrus industry's by-product.…”

“…[10] In a previous study, lemon IntegroPectin was shown to exert significant activity in vitro against Staphylococcus aureus virulent strains. [11] We now report the discovery of high in vitro activity of lemon IntegroPectin against virulent strains of P. aeruginosa, evaluating its antibacterial effect in terms of the minimal bactericidal (MBC) and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). We also show that this new biomaterial inhibits E. coli proliferation by exerting a powerful oxidative stress action against the microorganism.…”

Hydrodynamic Cavitation-based Rapid Expansion of Hesperidin-rich Products from Waste Citrus Peel as a Potential Tool Against COVID-19

“…In the case of the HC-based processing of WLP, the IntegroPectin showed exceptional antioxidant properties and complete lack of cytotoxicity against pulmonary epithelial cells up to very high doses (1 mg/mL) [50]. IntegroPectin also showed a strong antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus [51].…”