Apple Pectin May Fight Colitis, Cancer

SHAANXI, Peoples Republic of ChinaResearchers have long thought inflammation was linked to cancer; and colitis, inflammation of the colon, increases the developmental risk of colon cancer. In a recent Chinese study published in Carcinogenesis, researchers obtained an oligogalactan composed of five galacturonic acids from apple pectin and evaluated its protective efficacy on intestinal toxicities and carcinogenesis in a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer induced by 1, 2-dimethyl-hydrazine (DMH) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) (April 16, 2010).

The apple oligogalactan (AOG) was highly effective against intestinal toxicities and carcinogenesis and decreased the elevated levels of toll-like receptor4 (TLR4) and TNF-induced by inflammation in vivo. In vitro studies, AOG alone only slightly increased the levels of protein expression and mRNA of TLR4, phosphorylation of IB, and production of TNF- in HT-29 cells. However, AOG significantly decreased the elevation of all the biomarkers induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) when it was combined with LPS.

Researchers said: The effect of AOG may be related to membrane internalization and redistribution of TLR4 from cell membrane to cytoplasm. AOG is active against inflammation and carcinogenesis through targeting LPS/TLR4/NF-B pathway. Both AOG and LPS are agonists of TLR4 for sharing the same ligand, but AOG has a much lower intrinsic activity than that of LPS. AOG may be useful for treatment of colitis and prevention of carcinogenesis in the clinics.