Immunostimulatory plant polysaccharides impede cancer progression and metastasis by avoiding off-target effects.
An unexploited homo-polysaccharide (PSM001) isolated from the seed kernel of Kottukonam variety of Mangifera indica, demonstrated selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells both in vitro and in murine models while maintaining the immunostimulatory potential. Galactoxyloglucan (PST001) isolated from the seeds of Tamarindus indica, was previously established to be an effective anticancer and immunomodulatory agent. Cancer metastasis, with key features including invasion, migration, increased angiogenesis and colony formation is only likely to accentuate in the coming decades, considering the ground realities of the modern lifestyle and environmental factors and hence both the polysaccharides were tested towards the management of malignancy. It was a startling observation with both the biopolymers in inhibiting various processes involved in the metastatic cascade. A quick perusal of the issue at hand would throw up the promising ability of both PSM001 and PST001 to inhibit lung metastatic nodules of C57BL/6 mice wherein the combinatorial treatment of these polysaccharides with vincristine delivered superior therapeutic output. Later, vascular endothelial growth factor and multiple matrix metalloproteinases were found to be the lead players in the polysaccharide mediated metastatic inhibition. Having considered the complexities associated with the chemotherapy in metastatic cancer in terms of palpable immunosuppression, the aftermaths with the co-administration of an immunostimulatory agent which itself possess unique anticancer and anti-metastatic potentials with a potent chemotherapeutic agent will be enormously consequential.