In vitro activity of Citrus IntegroPectin against lung cancer cells

Citrus IntegroPectin bioconjugates obtained through acoustic cavitation in water of different Citrus fruit (lemon, red orange, and sweet orange) processing waste show substantial anticancer activity in vitro against human non-small cell lung cancer cells. Dissolved in aqueous phase at different concentrations, all bioconjugates tested affected long-term proliferation and cell migration of adenocarcinoma cells of line A549. Compared to the bioconjugate sourced from sweet orange, IntegroPectin phytocomplexes from lemon and red orange were more effective in reducing colony formation activity. Pointing to significant reduction in cancer cell progression, these first results concerning lung cancer cells support further investigation of these new low methoxyl pectins rich in citrus flavonoids and RG-I regions for the treatment of cancer.