Effects of cancer cells treatment with pectins from different plant types

• Grant number: 15/15661-8
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2015
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal researcher: Joao Paulo Fabi
• Grantee: Gabrielle Fernandez Ferreira
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/23970-2 - Biological changes of papaya pectins with possible benefits to human health, AP.JP

Abstract

Plant cell walls are composed of polysaccharides that may be unavailable for human absorption. Pectins are part of these fractions, and since certain types have high amounts of low molecular weight galactans, they might exert beneficial health effects in human consumption. These effects include inhibition of the beginning and progression of certain types of cancer, since the oligosaccharides might be absorbed throughout intestinal mucosa. In this way, pectins extracted and modified from three types of plants will have their possible positive effects evaluated in colon cancer cells. Pectins will be extracted from ripe papayas, citrus and chayote. In the last two plants, pectins will be chemically and thermally modified, respectively. Since previous data suggested these three types of pectins are galactan-rich ones, the obtained results could open possibilities for the design of new plant-derived functional foods.

Scientific publications

(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)

DER AGOPIAN, ROBERTA GHEDINI; FABI, JOAO PAULO; CORDENUNSI-LYSENKO, BEATRIZ ROSANA. Metabolome and proteome of ethylene-treated papayas reveal different pathways to volatile compounds biosynthesis. Food Research International, v. 131, MAY 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.

RAMOS DO PRADO, SAMIRA BERNARDINO; FERREIRA, GABRIELLE FERNANDEZ; HARAZONO, YOSUKE; SHIGA, TANIA MISUZU; RAZ, AVRAHAM; CARPITA, NICHOLAS C.; FABI, JOAO PAULO. Ripening-induced chemical modifications of papaya pectin inhibit cancer cell proliferation. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 7, NOV 29 2017. Web of Science Citations: 10.