Antidiabetic and anticancer properties of sun-dried fig (Ficus carica) stalk pectin: effects on intestinal glucose absorption and colon cancer cell growth

This study aims to characterize the physiological activity of fig stalk pectin (FSP) in terms of antidiabetic and anticancer activities. Also, the potency of FSP has been interpreted as a functional food ingredient in yogurt. The galacturonic acid content (65 %), degree of esterification (63 %), and enzymatic sugar analysis showed that FSP is a high methoxyl pectin rich in RG-I content (∼22 %). Anti-diabetic characteristics of FSP demonstrated that FSP inhibited 2-deoxyglucose uptake into CaCo-2 cells and reduced glucose absorption in the intestinal transport system after being added as an ingredient in yogurt at the concentration of 2 % (w/w). The antidiabetic activity of FSP was attributed to its capacity to modify the rheological properties of yogurt with a high-water binding capacity (10 g/g), and it increased the viscosity of digested yogurt samples considerably (from 89 to 110 Cp). Moreover, the characterization of anticancer properties showed that FSP inhibited the proliferation of colon cancer CaCo-2 cells by disturbing cell cycle progression, leading to S phase arrest, and showing apoptosis-inducing ability. Further research, including in vivo and clinical trials, is necessary to validate the observed health benefits of FSP.