Purification, characterization and anti-tumor activity of a pectic-type polysaccharide isolated from Ficus pandurata H.

A homogeneous polysaccharide (FP2) with 83.3 kDa molecular weight was obtained from the aerial parts of Ficus pandurata H. (Moraceae) by Sevag, anion-exchange chromatography and gel-filtration chromatography. On the basis of composition analysis, infrared spectra (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments, FP2 is a linear pectin with a main chain composed of →4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→. We investigated the anti-proliferative activity and its underlying mechanism of FP2 in HeLa cancer cells, using MTT assay and western blot analysis, respectively. Treatment with FP2 in HeLa cancer cells showed anti-proliferation effect and up-regulated the expression levels of caspase-3 and cleaved-PARP. IC50 values were 31.50 and 22.62 μg/ml for 24 h and 48 h, respectively. FP2 has potential of antitumor possibly due to apoptosis induction mediated through caspase-3 activation and cleavage of PARP. The results suggest that FP2 may be a promising plant polysaccharide targeting for anticancer therapy through activating the apoptotic pathway.