Polysaccharides from Algerian Opuntia ficus-indica Cladodes: Structural Characterization, Functional properties, and Cytotoxic Effects on U87 Human Glioblastoma Cells
Abstract
Natural polysaccharides derived from plant sources have gained increasing interest due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and diverse functional and biological properties. Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) cladodes represent a promising but underutilized source of such compounds. This study aimed to extract and characterize polysaccharides from OFI cladodes and to evaluate their functional and biological properties. The polysaccharides were extracted by hot-water extraction followed by ethanol precipitation. Structural characterization was performed using FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Functional properties, including water- and oil-holding capacities and emulsifying activity, were assessed, along with cytotoxicity evaluation on U87 cells. A high extraction yield of 50.35% was obtained, exceeding values reported in previous studies. FTIR analysis revealed characteristic absorption bands corresponding to hydroxyl groups, carboxylate groups, and galacturonic acid residues. NMR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of both α- and β-glycosidic linkages and a heterogeneous sugar composition mainly composed of galacturonic acid, arabinose, galactose, rhamnose, and xylose. SEM micrographs showed a fibrillar three-dimensional network with micropores and channels. Functional evaluation demonstrated a water-holding capacity of 4.38% and a high oil-holding capacity of 8.92%. The polysaccharides exhibited notable emulsifying activity (59.66%) with good stability (49% after 168 h). Cytotoxicity assays on U87 cells showed concentration-dependent effects, with mild cytotoxicity at higher concentrations (91.37% cell viability at 250 μg/mL) and slight proliferative effects at lower concentrations. These findings highlight the potential of OFI polysaccharides as natural functional ingredients for food, industrial, and biomedical applications.
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BibTeX
@article{mehiri2026polysaccharides,
title = {{Polysaccharides from Algerian Opuntia ficus-indica Cladodes: Structural Characterization, Functional properties, and Cytotoxic Effects on U87 Human Glioblastoma Cells}},
author = {Khayra Mehiri and Fatima Nehal and Saadia Benelhadj Djelloul and José Luis},
journal = {Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.26538/tjnpr/v10i7.9},
url = {https://inserm.hal.science/inserm-05853817v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Polysaccharides from Algerian Opuntia ficus-indica Cladodes: Structural Characterization, Functional properties, and Cytotoxic Effects on U87 Human Glioblastoma Cells
AU - Khayra Mehiri
AU - Fatima Nehal
AU - Saadia Benelhadj Djelloul
AU - José Luis
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/01
JO - Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research
DO - 10.26538/tjnpr/v10i7.9
UR - https://inserm.hal.science/inserm-05853817v1
AB - Natural polysaccharides derived from plant sources have gained increasing interest due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and diverse functional and biological properties. Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) cladodes represent a promising but underutilized source of such compounds. This study aimed to extract and characterize polysaccharides from OFI cladodes and to evaluate their functional and biological properties. The polysaccharides were extracted by hot-water extraction followed by ethanol precipitation. Structural characterization was performed using FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Functional properties, including water- and oil-holding capacities and emulsifying activity, were assessed, along with cytotoxicity evaluation on U87 cells. A high extraction yield of 50.35% was obtained, exceeding values reported in previous studies. FTIR analysis revealed characteristic absorption bands corresponding to hydroxyl groups, carboxylate groups, and galacturonic acid residues. NMR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of both α- and β-glycosidic linkages and a heterogeneous sugar composition mainly composed of galacturonic acid, arabinose, galactose, rhamnose, and xylose. SEM micrographs showed a fibrillar three-dimensional network with micropores and channels. Functional evaluation demonstrated a water-holding capacity of 4.38% and a high oil-holding capacity of 8.92%. The polysaccharides exhibited notable emulsifying activity (59.66%) with good stability (49% after 168 h). Cytotoxicity assays on U87 cells showed concentration-dependent effects, with mild cytotoxicity at higher concentrations (91.37% cell viability at 250 μg/mL) and slight proliferative effects at lower concentrations. These findings highlight the potential of OFI polysaccharides as natural functional ingredients for food, industrial, and biomedical applications.
SN - 2616-0684
SN - 2616-0692
ER -