title: The polysaccharide and low molecular weight components of Opuntia ficus indica cladodes: Structure and skin repairing properties.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, I-80126 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: flaviana.dilorenzo@unina.it.
authors.forename: Flaviana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, I-80126 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: silipo@unina.it.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silipo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, I-80126 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: molinaro@unina.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molinaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, I-80126 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: parrilli@unina.it.
authors.forename: Michelangelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parrilli
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, via de Crecchio 7, I-80138 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: chiara.schiraldi@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schiraldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, via de Crecchio 7, I-80138 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: antonella.dagostino@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, via de Crecchio 7, I-80138 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: elisabetta.izzo@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.affiliation: Bionap srl, R&D Contrada Fureria, ZIO 950125 Piano Tavola, Belapsso, Italy. Electronic address: luisa.rizza@bionap.com.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rizza
authors.affiliation: Bionap srl, R&D Contrada Fureria, ZIO 950125 Piano Tavola, Belapsso, Italy. Electronic address: andrea.bonina@bionap.com.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonina
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. Electronic address: boninaf@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonina
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, I-80126 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: lanzetta@unina.it.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lanzetta
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D029747:Opuntia / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides
keywords: Cicatrizing property; Cladodes mucilage; Opuntia ficus-indica; Polysaccharide; Wound-healing assay