Pectin-rich extracts from olives inhibit proliferation of Caco-2 and THP-1 cells

30 Páginas.-- 5 Figuras.-- 2 Tablas
Three olive modified pectin extracts have been produced by heat and acid treatment of the major by-product of olive oil production. Their effect on proliferation of the colon carcinoma Caco-2 and the leukemia monocytic THP-1 cell lines has been studied in order to determine possible anti-tumor properties. All extracts inhibited proliferation at some of the concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 mg ml−1. Interestingly none of the extracts inhibited the growth of confluent Caco-2 cells, showing the specificity of the antiproliferative effect for the transformed Caco-2 phenotype. All the extracts inhibited agglutination of red blood cells by galectin-3, a lectin involved in tumor growth, metastasis, and immune cell regulation that has been proposed as a mediator of the anti-tumor effects of modified pectins. In addition, activation of caspase-3 in THP-1 cells indicates that treatment with the pectin-rich extracts triggers apoptosis. These results point to a possible use as health-promoting food ingredients or supplements.
This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and co-funded by a European Social Fund (ESF) (Ramon y Cajal Programme Grant 2012-10456; AGL2013-48291-R; and AGL2016-79088-R). A. Bermúdez-Oria received funding from the Spanish FPI program (MEIC) (BES-2014-068508).