The polysaccharide and low molecular weight components of Opuntia ficus indica cladodes: Structure and skin repairing properties

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 157; pp. 128 - 136
• Main Authors: Di Lorenzo, Flaviana, Silipo, Alba, Molinaro, Antonio, Parrilli, Michelangelo, Schiraldi, Chiara, D’Agostino, Antonella, Izzo, Elisabetta, Rizza, Luisa, Bonina, Andrea, Bonina, Francesco, Lanzetta, Rosa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 10.02.2017
• Subjects: Cicatrizing property; Cladodes mucilage; Opuntia ficus-indica; Polysaccharide; Wound-healing assay; Cladodes mucilage; ORE; Wound-healing assay; Cicatrizing property; OPF; Opuntia ficus-indica; OSMF; Polysaccharide
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.09.073

•Opuntia ficus-indica cladode mucilage components were analyzed.•Mucilage was composed of high and low molecular weight (MW) components.•The high MW fraction was composed of a xyloarabinan and a galactan polymer.•The low MW fraction was made up of lactic acid, mannitol and phenolic compounds.•The low MW component was responsible for the tissue repairing properties of mucilage. The Opuntia ficus-indica multiple properties are reflected in the increasing interest of chemists in the identification of its natural components having pharmaceutical and/or cosmetical applications. Here we report the structural elucidation of Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage that highlighted the presence of components differing for their chemical nature and the molecular weight distribution. The high molecular weight components were identified as a linear galactan polymer and a highly branched xyloarabinan. The low molecular weight components were identified as lactic acid, D-mannitol, piscidic, eucomic and 2-hydroxy-4-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-butanoic acids. A wound healing assay was performed in order to test the cicatrizing properties of the various components, highlighting the ability of these latter to fasten dermal regeneration using a simplified in vitro cellular model based on a scratched keratinocytes monolayer. The results showed that the whole Opuntia mucilage and the low molecular weight components are active in the wound repair.