Pectin: Technological and Physiological Properties

lt;p>Dr Kontogiorgos is a food scientist by training having received all his degrees  in Food Science from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (B.Sc. and M.Sc.) and University of Guelph, Canada (Ph.D.). He has worked as an NSERC research fellow at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Canada) and as faculty member at the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Huddersfield (UK) before joining the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences at the University of Queensland (Australia). 

Dr Kontogiorgos research interests are focused on the area of polysaccharide isolation and characterisation with particular interest on pectin extraction and functionality. He is also working on the physical chemistry of colloidal systems that are fabricated with pectin and other polysaccharides. Dr Kontogiorgos is associate editor of Food Hydrocolloids and Food Biophysics.

lt;p>Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Biosynthesis, Localisation, and Function of Pectins in Plants  8

1.1 Pectin biosynthesis. 8

1.2 Localisation of pectins in plants. 11

1.3 Pectin functions in plants. 13

Chapter 2 Pectin Structure. 25

2.1 Introduction.. 25

2.2 Galacturonans. 28

2.2.1 Homogalacturonans. 28

2.2.2 Galacturonans substituted with more or less complex side-chains. 31

2.3 Rhamnogalacturonan I 35

2.3.1 Rhamnogalacturonan I backbone. 35

2.3.2 Rhamnogalacturonan I side-chains. 37

2.3.3 Side-chain intra- and inter-molecular distribution.. 39

2.4 Connection between pectin domains. 40

2.5 Conclusions. 42

Chapter 3 Pectin Degrading Enzymes. 50

3.1 Introduction.. 50

3.2 Homogalacturonan-degrading enzymes. 51

3.2.1 Polygalacturonases (PG). 52

3.2.2 Pectin and pectate lyases. 55

3.2.3 Pectin methylesterases (PMEs). 57

3.2.4 Pectin acetylesterases (PAE). 59

3.3 Rhamnogalacturonan-degrading enzymes. 61

3.3.1 Rhamnogalacturonan-hydrolases. 61

3.3.2 Rhamnogalacturonan-lyases. 62

3.3.3 Rhamnogalacturonan-acetylesterase. 64

3.4 Side-chain degrading enzymes. 64

3.4.2 Galactanases and beta-galactosidases. 66

3.4.3 Feruloylesterases. 68

3.5 Synergistic action of pectin degrading enzymes. 69

3.6 Conclusion.. 70

Chapter 4 Isolation and Characterisation of Pectin.. 80

4.1 Introduction.. 80

4.2 Extraction of pectin.. 82

4.2.1 Conventional extraction methods. 83

4.2.2 Enzymatic extraction.. 84

4.2.3 Microwave-assisted extraction.. 84

4.2.4 Ultrasonic extraction.. 85

4.2.5 Sub-critical water extraction/accelerated solvent extraction.. 85

4.3 Characterisation of pectin.. 86

4.3.1 Phenol-sulfuric acid/total carbohydrate assay. 86

4.3.2 Galacturonic acid content and degree of methyl esterification (DM). 87

4.3.3 Sugar composition.. 89

4.3.4 Molar mass and molar mass distribution.. 91

4.3.5 Intrinsic viscosity. 94

4.3.6 Rheology. 96

4.4. Conclusions. 98

Chapter 5 Emulsification Properties of Pectin.. 107

5.1. Introduction.. 107

5.2. Role of structural elements on the interfacial activity. 109

5.2.1 The role of protein.. 109

5.2.2 The role of acetyl and methyl groups. 111

5.2.3 The role of molecular weight and side chains. 112

5.3. Phenomenology of pectin adsorption at the oil-water interface. 115

5.4. Conclusions. 121

Chapter 6 Edible Films and Coatings with Pectin.. 125

6.1. Introduction.. 125

6.2. Edible films and coatings from pectins: elaboration and physical properties. 130

6.3. Pectin-based films and coatings in food preservation.. 139

6.4. Conclusions. 150

Chapter 7 Pectin Gelation and its Assembly into Functional Materials  159

7.1 Introduction.. 159

7.1.1 A soft matter exemplar. 159

7.1.2 Evolved pectin networks. 160

7.1.3 Current human exploitation.. 161

7.1.4 Unlocking the potential 161

7.2 Making pectin gels. 162

7.2.1 Different types of junction zones. 162

7.2.2 Different assembly procedures. 167

7.2.3 Practical top-tips for making gels. 171

7.3 Measuring gel properties. 174

7.4 Modelling mechanical properties. 179

7.5 Conclusions. 182

Chapter 8 Digestion and Metabolism of Pectin.. 192

8.1.      Introduction.. 192

8.1.1 Pectin as a source of soluble fibre and influence on digestion.. 192

8.1.2 Sources of pectin.. 193

8.1.3 Processed vs. whole food sources. 195

8.2.      Digestion.. 196

8.2.1 Introduction to digestion.. 196

8.2.2 Oral, gastric and small intestinal conditions. 198

8.3       Metabolism.. 205

8.4       Conclusions. 206

Chapter 9 Pectin Bioactivity. 213

9.1. Introduction.. 213

9.2 Bioactivity of pectins and hydrolysates/derivatives. 214

9.2.1 Anticancer activity. 214

9.2.2 Immunomodulatory activity. 217

9.2.3 Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. 218

9.2.4 Gastroprotection and other bioactivities. 220

9.3. Structure-function relationship. 223

9.3.2 Homogalacturonan (HG) and rhamnogalacturonan-II (RG-II) pectins. 225

9.3.3 Partially hydrolysed pectins, pectic oligosaccharides, and pectin derivatives. 228

9.4 Application of bioactive pectins. 232

9.5 Conclusions. 235

Chapter 10 Pectin as Drug-Release Vehicle. 243

10.1. Introduction.. 243

10.2 Different drug delivery systems by various administration routes. 244

10.2.1. Oral drug delivery system (ODDs). 245

10.2.2. Other administration routes. 254

10.3. Conclusions. 263