Analytical Optimization of Extraction Parameters to Produce High-Yield Low Methoxy Pectin with Significant Bioactivity

Abstract

The pectin isolation technique from sugar beet pulp was optimized to acquire high-quality bioactive pectin with the highest yield and low esterification degree. The influence of each isolation parameter on the success of pectin production was investigated by analytical characterization methods. With this step-by-step analytic investigation, we could be able to achieve ~ 45% yield with a ~ 10% low esterification degree. In addition to compositional quality, bioactivity and anticancer profile of the obtained sugar beet pulp pectin (SBPP) was investigated on SaOS-2 osteosarcoma cell line. In comparison with citrus pectin (CP), which is frequently applied pectin derivative as an anticancer agent, SBPP revealed prolonged antiproliferative profile for cancer cells. In addition to proliferation, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic gene expression were surveyed in vitro. Interestingly, the lower concentration of SBPP (0.25%) induced a significant rise in intracellular ROS level and anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 expression on the contrary to CP. All results demonstrated that different pectin types can lead different biological mechanism of action and the isolated SBPP by using optimized protocol exhibited great potential for biomedical applications without requirement of additional post-modification after isolation.