Abstract
Galactomannans and xyloglucans can be isolated from seeds with relatively high purity and yield; they are water soluble, non-toxic, and biocompatible. These polymers have broad spectra of potential use in medicine, from drug delivery systems to biological response modifiers. The biological activity of polysaccharides is intrinsically linked to their structural aspects. In general the chemical modification of galactomannans and xyloglucans, e.g., sulfation and complexation with oxovanadium, potentiate effects such as cytotoxicity against tumor cells, leishmanicidal activity, and activation of macrophages to release proinflammatory mediators. The wide range of seeds and structural variety favor the isolation of galactomannans and xyloglucans. This allows derivatives to be obtained with targeted properties and activity enabling their use in new applications in the biomedical area.
Highlights
Seeds play a central role in plant reproduction and human nutrition
As galactomannans and xyloglucans can be isolated from seeds with relatively high purity and yield, are water soluble, non-toxic, and biocompatible, they are suited for biological applications [5,6,7,8,9,10]
This minireview shows that galactomannans and xyloglucans from seeds can be readily obtained and possess a wide variety of characteristics, from proper physical chemistry properties that enable them to be used as vehicle to drugs to the ability to modify biological responses
Summary
Potential for Biomedical Applications of Galactomannans and Xyloglucans from Seeds: An Overview. Guilhermina Rodrigues Noleto* and Carmen Lúcia Oliveira Petkowicz Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, CP 19046, CEP 81531-980, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
