Effect of papaya cell wall treatment with pectinases in colon cancer cells

• Grant number: 18/06274-9
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal researcher: Joao Paulo Fabi
• Grantee: Raphael Carvalho Beraldo
• 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

The cell wall of the plants is composed of polysaccharide fractions unavailable for human absorption, and pectins are part of this fraction. When pectins possess a high amount of low molecular weight galactans, indicatives show that their consumption may lead to an inhibition of the onset and progression of certain types of cancer, since these compounds could exert systemic action when absorbed by the intestinal mucosa. Thus, the total cell fraction of papayas will be modified with pectinases and the resulting low molecular pectins will have their probable beneficial effects measured through the treatment of colon cancer cell culture. The pectins used in the experiments will be from green and mature papayas, since previous data have shown that these pectins are rich in galactans. The results obtained may indicate a new trend in the development of functional foods derived from the enzymatic modifications of plant cell walls. (AU)