Effects of modified pectins on gut health: pre-clinical and clinical studies to assess cellular, transcriptional, and epigenetic effects

• Grant number: 22/12834-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2023
• End date: June 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Agreement: Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
• Principal Investigator: Joao Paulo Fabi
• Grantee: Joao Paulo Fabi
• Principal researcher abroad: Ferdinand von Meyenn
• Institution abroad: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The consumption of dietary fiber from fruits benefits human health by reducing the incidence of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The soluble fibers of the fruits are derived from pectins that can be chemically modified and can then exert immunomodulatory action in the colon. These bioactive modified pectins are formed by galacturonans and low molecular weight galactans that are expected to interact with receptors and proteins of the gut intestinal cells and thereby mediating their beneficial effects. While simple two-dimensional in vitro models have been used in the past and support the health promoting notion of these bioactive modified pectins, better experimental models are needed to recapitulate human gut physiology and study the molecular and cellular interactions and mechanisms of these factors. The primary objective of this proposal is to establish a platform to assess food-health interactions in novel, advanced, (three-dimensional) preclinical in vitro models and then assess the relationship between the chemical structure of the modified pectins of two fruits (papaya and passion fruit) and their effects on cell state, transcription, epigenome, as well as gut physiology and beneficial effects. These results will be correlated to the outcomes of a (small) clinical trial, to assess the health promoting effects of these pectins in vivo and validate the newly established preclinical in vitro model. The results could open new opportunities for the development of (broadly available) dietary supplements that will help to maintain gut health and reduce the risk of developing intestinal diseases. (AU)

Scientific publications

(13)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ROSALES, THIECLA KATIANE OSVALDT; DA SILVA, FABIO FERNANDO ALVES; BERNARDES, EMERSON SOARES; FABI, JOAO PAULO. Plant-derived polyphenolic compounds: nanodelivery through polysaccharide-based systems to improve the biological properties. CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION, v. N/A, p. 25-pg., 2023-08-04. (22/12834-2, 13/07914-8, 23/09620-3, 23/01396-7)

DE OLIVEIRA, DEBORA PRECELIANO; TODOROV, SVETOSLAV DIMITROV; FABI, JOAO PAULO. Exploring the Prebiotic Potentials of Hydrolyzed Pectins: Mechanisms of Action and Gut Microbiota Modulation. NUTRIENTS, v. 16, n. 21, p. 23-pg., 2024-11-01. (13/07914-8, 22/12834-2, 23/05394-9)

PEDROSA, LUCAS DE FREITAS; KOUZOUNIS, DIMITRIOS; SCHOLS, HENK; DE VOS, PAUL; FABI, JOAO PAULO. Assessing high-temperature and pressure extraction of bioactive water-soluble polysaccharides from passion fruit mesocarp. Carbohydrate Polymers, v. 335, p. 16-pg., 2024-03-27. (13/07914-8, 20/08063-5, 22/12834-2)

DONADIO, JANAINA LOMBELLO SANTOS; FABI, JOAO PAULO. Comparative analysis of pectin and prebiotics on human microbiota modulation in early life stages and adults. FOOD & FUNCTION, v. N/A, p. 22-pg., 2024-05-30. (13/07914-8, 22/12834-2, 21/07292-3)

ROSALES, THIECLA KATIANE OSVALDT; DA SILVA, FABIO FERNANDO ALVES; RIVERA, ANDY GONZALEZ; DOS SANTOS, SOFIA NASCIMENTO; BUSTOS, DANIEL; MORALES-QUINTANA, LUIS ALBERTO; SANTOS, HELDER A.; BERNARDES, EMERSON SOARES; FABI, JOAO PAULO. A study of the oral bioavailability and biodistribution increase of Nanoencapsulation-driven Delivering radiolabeled anthocyanins. Food Research International, v. 197, p. 14-pg., 2024-10-01. (13/07914-8, 22/12834-2, 23/09620-3, 23/01396-7)

PEDROSA, LUCAS DE FREITAS; FABI, JOAO PAULO. Polysaccharides from Medicinal Plants: Bridging Ancestral Knowledge with Contemporary Science. PLANTS-BASEL, v. 13, n. 13, p. 21-pg., 2024-07-01. (22/12253-0, 20/08063-5, 22/12834-2, 13/07914-8)

PEDROSA, LUCAS DE FREITAS; DE VOS, PAUL; FABI, JOAO PAULO. From Structure to Function: How Prebiotic Diversity Shapes Gut Integrity and Immune Balance. NUTRIENTS, v. 16, n. 24, p. 16-pg., 2024-12-01. (22/12253-0, 20/08063-5, 22/12834-2, 13/07914-8)

TONIAZZO, TAISE; FABI, JOAO PAULO. Versatile Polysaccharides for Application to Semi-Solid and Fluid Foods: The Pectin Case. FLUIDS, v. 8, n. 9, p. 17-pg., 2023-09-01. (22/12834-2, 17/19266-1, 19/26525-9, 13/07914-8)

PAESANI, CANDELA; LAMMERS, TAMY C. G. L.; SCIARINI, LORENA S.; MOIRAGHI, MALENA; PEREZ, GABRIELA T.; FABI, JOAO PAULO. Effect of chemical, thermal, and enzymatic processing of wheat bran on the solubilization, technological and biological properties of non-starch polysaccharides. Carbohydrate Polymers, v. 328, p. 10-pg., 2024-01-04. (13/07914-8, 22/12834-2)

DONADIO, JANAINA L. S.; DO PRADO, SAMIRA BERNARDINO RAMOS; SOARES, CAROLINE GIACOMELLI; TAMAROSSI, RODRIGO INVERNORT; HEIDOR, RENATO; MORENO, FERNANDO SALVADOR; FABI, JOAO PAULO. Ripe papaya pectins inhibit the proliferation of colon cancer spheroids and the formation of chemically induced aberrant crypts in rats colons. Carbohydrate Polymers, v. 331, p. 15-pg., 2024-02-02. (13/07914-8, 22/12834-2, 21/07292-3)

DA SILVA, PEDRO BRIVALDO VIANA; FABI, JOAO PAULO. Overview of Pectin-Derived Microparticles through Microfluidic Technology. FLUIDS, v. 9, n. 8, p. 19-pg., 2024-08-01. (13/07914-8, 22/12834-2, 22/12270-1)

PEDROSA, LUCAS DE FREITAS; DE VOS, PAUL; FABI, JOAO PAULO. Nature's soothing solution: Harnessing the potential of food-derived polysaccharides to control inflammation. CURRENT RESEARCH IN STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY, v. 6, p. 11-pg., 2023-11-17. (13/07914-8, 20/08063-5, 22/12834-2)

PEDROSA, LUCAS DE FREITAS; NASCIMENTO, KAREN REBOUCAS; SOARES, CAROLINE GIACOMELLI; DE OLIVEIRA, DEBORA PRECELIANO; DE VOS, PAUL; FABI, JOAO PAULO. Unveiling Plant-Based Pectins: Exploring the Interplay of Direct Effects, Fermentation, and Technological Applications in Clinical Research with a Focus on the Chemical Structure. PLANTS-BASEL, v. 12, n. 14, p. 21-pg., 2023-07-01. (22/12834-2, 20/08063-5, 22/12253-0, 13/07914-8)