Research Information System
The Sixth International Symposium on Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Gaziantep, Turkey, 26 - 28 May 2022, pp.47
Abstract
Pitaya is a fruit of the genus Hylocereus with rich content, and functional bioactive components.
Recently, the production and consumption of pitaya have increased worldwide. It has important roles in
human health such as cancer chemoprevention, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic effects, and decreasing
risk of cardiovascular diseases. Pitaya is special for human gut health because of its glycan content.
Glycans can be found as a free or conjugated form in nature. They can reach the colon in undigested
form since humans do not have glycosidase enzymes to utilize glycans. They can be utilized by some
symbiotics as a carbon source in gut microbiota and, cause selective growth among some probiotics.
Bifidobacterium infantis has the capability of degradation and utilization of these glycans. It can release
conjugated N-glycans by its unique enzyme Endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (EndoBI-1). Studies
about conjugated glycans are limited, thus released N-glycans from pitaya may have important prebiotic
effect on gut health.
Therefore, pitaya samples that are obtained from Thailand and Mersin were analyzed for protein content.
Protein quantity of samples measured with QUBIT 3.0 fluorometer and visualized. By using EndoBI-1
enzyme, pitaya N-glycans released and purified. Characterization of glycans will be performed by
MALDI-TOF-MS and HPLC-HILIC-FLD analysis. In vitro digestion model will be used for the
analysis of purified glycans’ prebiotic activity. These glycans utilization as a prebiotic will be tested on
several probiotics.
Consequently, we will have information about the pitaya N-glycan profile, and prebiotic activity studies
of bioactive N-glycans will form the basis outputs of this study. In this context, how various
glycoprotein-containing products are affected throughout the digestive tract and how they shape the
intestinal microflora will be revealed. These findings on pitaya fruit may have a role in advancing
research into the complex nature of fruit-drug interactions and their possible impact on the clinical
effects of drugs.
Key Words: Pitaya, N-glycan, prebiotic, in-vitro digestion, Endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase
Acknowledgements
This study was derived from the Graduate Thesis of Melda Karyelioğlu entitled as “Characterization of Pitaya NLinked
Glycans and In-vitro Identification of Potential Prebiotic Effect” supplied for partial fulfillment of the
Master’s Degree at Molecular Biology and Genetics Department at Institute of Graduate Studies at Çanakkale
Onsekiz Mart University. The study supported by The Scientific And Technological Research Council Of Turkey
2210-C Program and Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University The Scientific Research Coordination Unit Project
number: FYL-2021-3770.