Modified Citrus Pectin

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This section does not replicate the other information on this topic but provides additional details or context most relevant to professionals.

Modes of action

Oral consumption of modified citrus pectin controls cancer metastasis by inhibiting the role of the pro-metastatic regulatory protein galectin-3 (Gal3).¹Gunning AP, Pin C, Morris VJ. Galectin 3-β-galactobiose interactions. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2013 Jan 30;92(1):529-33.

Preclinical evidence

Notable preclinical evidence is shared here; clinical evidence, and our evaluations, are in How can modified citrus pectin help you? What the research says ›

Treating cancer

• Anticancer action in tumor cells²Wang L, Li YS et al. Galectin-3 expression and secretion by tumor-associated macrophages in hypoxia promotes breast cancer progression. Biochemical Pharmacology. 2020 Aug;178:114113; Eliaz I, Raz A. Pleiotropic effects of modified citrus pectin. Nutrients. 2019 Nov 1;11(11):2619; do Prado SBR, Shiga TM et al. Migration and proliferation of cancer cells in culture are differentially affected by molecular size of modified citrus pectin. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2019 May 1;211:141-151; Leclere L, Fransolet M et al. Identification of a cytotoxic molecule in heat-modified citrus pectin. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2016 Feb 10;137:39-51. 
• Anticancer action in urinary bladder cancer in vitro and in animal models³Fang T, Liu DD et al. Modified citrus pectin inhibited bladder tumor growth through downregulation of galectin-3. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 2018 Dec;39(12):1885-1893.
• Anticancer action in breast cancer cells and animal models,⁴Wang L, Zhao L et al. Modified citrus pectin inhibits breast cancer development in mice by targeting tumor-associated macrophage survival and polarization in hypoxic microenvironment. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 2022 Jun;43(6):1556-1567; Nangia-Makker P, Hogan V et al. Inhibition of human cancer cell growth and metastasis in nude mice by oral intake of modified citrus pectin. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2002 Dec 18;94(24):1854-62. sometimes along with other therapies⁵Jiang J, Eliaz I, Sliva D. Synergistic and additive effects of modified citrus pectin with two polybotanical compounds, in the suppression of invasive behavior of human breast and prostate cancer cells. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2013 Mar;12(2):145-52.
• Anticancer action against colon cancer cells and animal models⁶Chen L, Hao M et al. Citrus-derived DHCP inhibits mitochondrial complex II to enhance TRAIL sensitivity via ROS-induced DR5 upregulation. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2021 Jan-Jun;296:100515; Hayashi A, Gillen AC, Lott JR. Effects of daily oral administration of quercetin chalcone and modified citrus pectin on implanted colon-25 tumor growth in Balb-c mice. Alternative Medicine Review. 2000 Dec;5(6):546-52.
• Inhibition of liver metastasis of colon cancer in mice⁷Liu HY, Huang ZL, Yang GH, Lu WQ, Yu NR. Inhibitory effect of modified citrus pectin on liver metastases in a mouse colon cancer model. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2008 Dec 28;14(48):7386-91; Huang ZL, Liu HY. [Expression of galectin-3 in liver metastasis of colon cancer and the inhibitory effect of modified citrus pectin]. Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2008 Aug;28(8):1358-61.
• No evidence of an effect on colorectal cancer outcomes in an animal study⁸Ferreira-Lazarte A, Fernández J et al. Behaviour of citrus pectin and modified citrus pectin in an azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS)-induced rat colorectal carcinogenesis model. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2021 Jan 15;167:1349-1360.
• Anticancer action in liver cancer and adenocarcinoma cells⁹Leclere L, Fransolet M et al. Heat-modified citrus pectin induces apoptosis-like cell death and autophagy in HepG2 and A549 cancer cells. PLoS One. 2015 Mar 20;10(3):e0115831.
• Anticancer action in angiosarcoma cells¹⁰Johnson KD, Glinskii OV et al. Galectin-3 as a potential therapeutic target in tumors arising from malignant endothelia. Neoplasia. 2007 Aug;9(8):662-70. 
• Anticancer action in melanoma cells¹¹Inohara H, Raz A. Effects of natural complex carbohydrate (citrus pectin) on murine melanoma cell properties related to galectin-3 functions. Glycoconjugate Journal. 1994 Dec;11(6):527-32; Platt D, Raz A. Modulation of the lung colonization of B16-F1 melanoma cells by citrus pectin. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 1992 Mar 18;84(6):438-42. and blocked lung metastasis by melanoma cells in preclinical studies¹²Dange MC, Srinivasan N et al. Galectin-3 expressed on different lung compartments promotes organ specific metastasis by facilitating arrest, extravasation and organ colonization via high affinity ligands on melanoma cells. Clinical & Experimental Metastasis. 2014 Aug;31(6):661-73.
• Anticancer action against ovarian cancer cells¹³Hossein G, Halvaei S et al. Pectasol-C Modified Citrus Pectin targets Galectin-3-induced STAT3 activation and synergize paclitaxel cytotoxic effect on ovarian cancer spheroids. Cancer Medicine. 2019 Aug;8(9):4315-4329; Hossein G, Keshavarz M, Ahmadi S, Naderi N. Synergistic effects of PectaSol-C modified citrus pectin an inhibitor of Galectin-3 and paclitaxel on apoptosis of human SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. 2013;14(12):7561-8.
• Anticancer action against prostate cancer cells with modified citrus pectin¹⁴Yan J, Katz A. PectaSol-C modified citrus pectin induces apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation in human and mouse androgen-dependent and- independent prostate cancer cells. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2010 Jun;9(2):197-203; Hsieh TC, Wu JM. Changes in cell growth, cyclin/kinase, endogenous phosphoproteins and nm23 gene expression in human prostatic JCA-1 cells treated with modified citrus pectin. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology International. 1995 Nov;37(5):833-41; Pienta KJ, Naik H et al. Inhibition of spontaneous metastasis in a rat prostate cancer model by oral administration of modified citrus pectin. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 1995 Mar 1;87(5):348-53. or fractionated pectin powder¹⁵Jackson CL, Dreaden TM et al. Pectin induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells: correlation of apoptotic function with pectin structure. Glycobiology. 2007 Aug;17(8):805-19.
• Radiotherapy combined with MCP reduced viability and enhanced radiosensitivity of prostate cancer cells¹⁶Conti S, Vexler A et al. Modified citrus pectin as a potential sensitizer for radiotherapy in prostate cancer. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2018 Dec;17(4):1225-1234.
• Anticancer action in thyroid cancer cells treated with a combination of S-trans, transfarnesylthiosalicylic acid, and MCP¹⁷Menachem A, Bodner O, Pastor J, Raz A, Kloog Y. Inhibition of malignant thyroid carcinoma cell proliferation by Ras and galectin-3 inhibitors. Cell Death Discovery. 2015 Nov 2;1:15047. 

Optimizing your body terrain

• Immunomodulatory action by increasing the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNF-α levels in mice¹⁸Merheb R, Abdel-Massih RM, Karam MC. Immunomodulatory effect of natural and modified Citrus pectin on cytokine levels in the spleen of BALB/c mice. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2019 Jan;121:1-5.
• Immunostimulatory properties in human blood samples, including the activation of functional NK cells against K562 leukemic cells in culture¹⁹Ramachandran C, Wilk BJ et al. Activation of human T-helper/inducer cell, T-cytotoxic cell, B-cell, and natural killer (NK)-cells and induction of natural killer cell activity against K562 chronic myeloid leukemia cells with modified citrus pectin. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2011 Aug 4;11:59.
• Anti-inflammatory effects in cell studies²⁰Cao J, Yang J, Wang Z, Lu M, Yue K. Modified citrus pectins by UV/H2O2 oxidation at acidic and basic conditions: Structures and in vitro anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative activities. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2020 Nov 1;247:116742; Chen CH, Sheu MT et al. Suppression of endotoxin-induced proinflammatory responses by citrus pectin through blocking LPS signaling pathways. Biochemical Pharmacology. 2006 Oct 16;72(8):1001-9.

Managing side effects

• Increased renal function and attenuated renal fibrosis after cisplatin-induced injury in mice treated with MCP²¹Li HY, Yang S, Li JC, Feng JX. Galectin 3 inhibition attenuates renal injury progression in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Bioscience Reports. 2018 Dec 18;38(6):BSR20181803.

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