Sarcocornia perennis pectic polysaccharides orally administered to mice: Holistic histological evaluation of xenobiotic protection.

Sarcocornia perennis subsp. perennis is an edible halophyte with reported potential health benefits. To disclose the potential contribution of its polysaccharides to health benefits, in this work, hot water extracts were prepared and a holistic approach was performed, relating the simultaneous effects on different organs and molecular components administered orally, using the extract and the purified polysaccharides. The material rich in polysaccharides extracted with hot water was separated into two fractions by dialysis, allowing to obtain the pectic polysaccharides and the low molecular weight compounds. Oral administration of the extract and its fractions (120 mg/kg/day, 30 days) in mice was evaluated by histopathological analysis of liver, lymphoid (thymus and spleen) and reproductive organs (testis and epididymis). Extract and purified polysaccharides promoted a megakaryocytes increase in spleen, while low molecular weight compounds affected the reproductive organs (vacuolation and germ cells release in lumen), causing hydropic change in liver and degeneration of seminiferous tubules. This is the first study on polysaccharides from Sarcocornia. These pectic polysaccharides were shown to protect the immune and reproductive systems against toxic chemicals inducers of oxidation reactions. Their purification is a fundamental step, since the low molecular weight compounds of the edible parts may contribute to lesions in reproductive organs.