Pectin: An overview of sources, extraction and applications in food products, biomedical, pharmaceutical and environmental issues

Abstract

Pectin is a complex versatile heteropolysaccharide of great importance to food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. It is widely used in the food industry due to its thickening, gelling and emulsification properties and in biomedical and biomaterial applications on account of its potential anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects as well as its biodegradability and biocompatibility properties. Pectin is also a soluble dietary fiber with several beneficial gastrointestinal and physiological effects. The multifunctionality of pectin is related to the nature of its molecule that has diverse chemical structures, physicochemical properties and potential functionalities depending on the sources where it is extracted and on the extraction methods. Therefore, this review focuses on the importance of pectin for today's food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, compiling information on its composition and properties as determined by its origins, especially from waste biomass of the fruits and vegetables processing industry, on commercial applications and research needs. The suitability of the different extraction methods was also discussed, considering cost, energy consumption and productivity. Furthermore, the biodegradation of pectin as a complex process performed by a set of enzymes was also reviewed along with application purposes. Finally, future perspectives reveal pectin to be an astounding functional food ingredient requiring continuous research work.