Neuroprotective and Mitoprotective Effects of Lemon IntegroPectin on SH-SY5Y Cells

Abstract

Lemon IntegroPectin obtained via hydrodynamic cavitation of organic lemon processing waste in water shows significant neuroprotective activity in vitro, as first reported in this study investigating the effects of both lemon IntegroPectin and commercial citrus pectin on cell viability, cell morphology, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondria perturbation induced by treatment of neuronal SH-SY5Y human cells with H2O2. Mediated by ROS including H2O2 and its derivatives, oxidative stress alters numerous cellular processes, including mitochondrial regulation and cell signaling, propagating cellular injury that leads to incurable neurodegenerative diseases. These results, and the absence of toxicity of this new pectic substance rich in adsorbed flavonoids and terpenes, support further investigations to verify its activity in preventing, retarding, or even curing neurological diseases.

Flavonoids in Lemon and Grapefruit IntegroPectin

“…Along with the unique molecular structure of these new pectins, with low degree of esterification and high amount of RG-I "hairy region" (repeating disaccharide units [→2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→] and neutral sugar side-chains mainly consisting of arabinose and galactose with different linkages) [4,5], these results shed light on the exceptionally high bactericidal activity of grapefruit IntegroPectin [4], and the neuro-and mitoprotective action of lemon IntegroPectin [5].…”

“…The neuro-and mitoprotective action of lemon IntegroPectin migh be due to the combined neuroprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action of eriocitrin in synergy with hesperidin and with -terpineol and terpinen-4-ol neuroprotective species abundant in the newly obtained citrus pectin [3], again in combination with the RG-I enriched structure of the lemon IntegroPectin favoring interaction with the cancer cells studied [5] (which include human pulmonary cells [1]).…”

“…Numerous new biomedical applications beyond the treatment of microbial infections and neurodegenerative disease can be anticipated in light of the broad scope bioactivity of the citrus flavonoids and terpenes identified in whole citrus pectins studied in synergy with that of pectin, recently called "an universal medicine" [30], especially considering the unique molecular structure of citrus pectin obtained via hydrodynamic [4,5,7]…”

“…Further reporting the broad-scope bactericidal activity of grapefruit IntegroPectin against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and suggesting also the bacterial inactivation mechanism [4], we noted that analysis of the flavonoids and terpenes present in the new IntegroPectin was necessary en route to develop new applications of these new pectic polymers. Indeed, along with the aforementioned antibacterial activity, lemon IntegroPectin was recently shown to exert exceptionally high in vitro neuro-and mitoprotective activity towards human neuronal cells [5].…”