The uptake of oligogalacturonide and its effect on growth inhibition, lactate dehydrogenase activity and galactin-3 release of human cancer cells

Abstract Anti-tumour activity and membrane permeability of 1 kDa oligogalacturonide (PET-pectin), prepared from citrus pectin after 24 h hydrolysis, by commercial pectic enzyme produced by Aspergillus niger , on four human cell lines (HepG2, A549, Colo 205, and HEK293) and the uptake of oligogalacturonide by HEK293 cell and BALB/c mouse were investigated. PET-pectin causes a higher value of growth inhibition, lactate dehydrogenase release, and galactin-3 release in human cancer cells, as compared to the human normal HEK293 cell. There was a good correlation between growth inhibition of human cells and the uptake of rhodamine B-PET-pectin content by these cells. Additionally, almost no difference between growth inhibitions of human normal HEK293 cells cultivated with PET-pectin and pectin was found. Total pectin content in the blood of PET-pectin administrated mice increased to a maximum at 2 h after oral administration, while it did not increase and change in pectin administrated mice. Our findings suggested that citrus PET-pectin can be developed as a potential dietary supplement in plant origin for cancer prevention.