Abstract:

Pectin is a complex class of plant polysaccharides, composed of a galacturonan backbone and neutral sugar side
chains. Antitumor modified pectin fragments (MPs) can be prepared by physical and/or chemical modification of pectin
to decrease its molecular mass, reduce its degree of esterification, modify its fine structure and improve its bioavailability.
MPs can reportedly inhibit tumor growth, induce apoptosis, sensitize tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs, interfere
with angiogenesis, suppress metastasis and modulate immunological responses. This review summarizes the antitumor
mechanisms, bioabsorption mechanisms and structure-activity relationship of MPs. We also analyze the prospects for
developing MPs-based functional foods.

Key words: galectin-3 (Gal-3), modified pectins (MPs), modified citrus pectin (MCP), pectin, antitumor activity