Integration of biochemical and pharmacological evaluation of Pistacia lentiscus leaf polysaccharides: evidence for anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activity.

Authors

Radia Kadi, Nadjet Debbache-Benaida, Naima Saidene, Nassima Chaher-Bazizi, Sidali Zaidi, Zineb Medjahed, Pierre Fechter, Najet Mejdoubi-Charef

Published in

Inflammopharmacology. Jun 27, 2026. Epub Jun 27, 2026.

Abstract

Sulfated polysaccharides have emerged as bioactive macromolecules with potential immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the pharmacological effects of polysaccharides derived from Pistacia lentiscus L. leaves on inflammation-related gastric injury remain insufficiently characterized.
This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and gastroprotective effects of crude sulfated polysaccharides from P. lentiscus leaves (CPL), with emphasis on their modulation of inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways.
CPL was obtained by hot-water extraction followed by ethanol precipitation, yielding a crude water-soluble polysaccharide fraction without chemical modification. Structural features were preliminarily assessed using UV-visible and FTIR spectroscopy. Antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH radical scavenging, total antioxidant capacity, and reducing power assays. Anti-inflammatory activity was investigated via cyclooxygenase inhibition assays (COX-1 and COX-2). In vivo gastroprotective effects were evaluated in an ethanol-induced gastric injury model in mice, with analysis of oxidative stress and inflammation-related biomarkers, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and myeloperoxidase (MPO), alongside histopathological assessment.
CPL exhibited strong antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 9.97 ± 0.17 µg/mL) and significant reducing capacity. The extract inhibited cyclooxygenase activity, with preferential inhibition of COX-2 (IC₅₀ = 0.50 ± 0.04 mg/mL) over COX-1 (IC₅₀ = 2.21 ± 0.087 mg/mL), suggesting selective anti-inflammatory potential. In vivo, treatment with CPL significantly attenuated ethanol-induced gastric damage, as evidenced by increased SOD activity and GSH levels, and decreased MPO activity, indicating reduced neutrophil infiltration and oxidative stress. Histopathological assessment further confirmed the preservation of gastric mucosal integrity in treated groups.
Crude sulfated polysaccharides from P. lentiscus leaves exhibited antioxidant activity, preferential inhibition of COX-2 over COX-1 in vitro, and protective effects against ethanol-induced gastric injury. CPL treatment restored antioxidant defenses, reduced MPO activity, and preserved gastric mucosal architecture, suggesting a role in the attenuation of oxidative stress and inflammatory tissue damage. These findings support the potential of P. lentiscus polysaccharides as bioactive agents for gastric protection. Further studies are required to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and structure-activity relationships.

PMID:
42365210
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 28 Jun 2026.

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