In vitro antioxidant, anticoagulant and antimicrobial activity and in inhibition of cancer cell proliferation by xylan extracted from corn cobs.
Xylan is one of most abundant polymer after cellulose. However, its potential has yet to be completely recognized. Corn cobs contain a considerable reservoir of xylan. The aim of this work was to study some of the biological activities of xylan obtained from corn cobs after alkaline extraction enhanced by ultrasonication. Physical chemistry and infrared analyses showed 130 kDa heteroxylan containing mainly xylose:arabinose: galactose:glucose (5.0:1.5:2.0:1.2). Xylan obtained exhibited total antioxidant activity corresponding to 48.5 mg of ascorbic acid equivalent/g of xylan. Furthermore, xylan displayed high ferric chelating activity (70%) at 2 mg/mL. Xylan also showed anticoagulant activity in aPTT test. In antimicrobial assay, the polysaccharide significantly inhibited bacterial growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae. In a test with normal and tumor human cells, after 72 h, only HeLa tumor cell proliferation was inhibited (p < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner by xylan, reaching saturation at around 2 mg/mL, whereas 3T3 normal cell proliferation was not affected. The results suggest that it has potential clinical applications as antioxidant, anticoagulant, antimicrobial and antiproliferative compounds.
Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Avenue Salgado Filho S/N, Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil; E-Mails:  ranierefagundes@hotmail.com  (R.F.M.-S.);  gabrielfidelis_@hotmail.com  (G.P.F.);  marispc_bio@yahoo.com.br  (M.S.S.P.C.);  cinthiatelles@yahoo.com.br  (C.B.S.T.);  nednaldod@hotmail.com  (N.D.-S.).
Raniere Fagundes
RF
Melo-Silveira
Gabriel Pereira
GP
Fidelis
Mariana Santana Santos Pereira
MS
Costa
Cinthia Beatrice Silva
CB
Telles
Nednaldo
N
Dantas-Santos
Susana
S
de Oliveira Elias
Vanessa Bley
VB
Ribeiro
Afonso Luis
AL
Barth
Alexandre José
AJ
Macedo
Edda Lisboa
EL
Leite
Hugo Alexandre Oliveira
HA
Rocha
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013481:Superoxides / Q000737:chemistry; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014990:Xylans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014990:Xylans; D013481:Superoxides; D013925:Thromboplastin