Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory bowel disease in which long-term maintenance of remission remains a major therapeutic challenge. Increasing evidence indicates that disruption of host-microbiome metabolic interactions, impaired production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), defective epithelial energy metabolism, and intestinal barrier dysfunction contribute to disease relapse. These observations have generated interest in adjunctive metabolic strategies aimed at restoring luminal homeostasis rather than directly suppressing inflammation. Objective: This narrative review examines the biological rationale for combining pectin, a fermentable dietary fiber that promotes endogenous SCFA production, with kaolin, naturally occurring adsorbent clay, as adjunctive metabolic therapy for maintaining remission in UC. We summarize current mechanistic, experimental, and clinical evidence and discuss future translational research priorities. Evidence: Experimental studies demonstrate that pectin fermentation enhances the production of butyrate and other SCFAs, thereby improving epithelial energy metabolism, strengthening intestinal barrier integrity, and modulating mucosal immune responses. Kaolin possesses adsorptive and barrier-protective properties that may reduce luminal exposure to potentially harmful microbial products while improving stool consistency. Although direct clinical evidence supporting the combined use of pectin and kaolin in UC is currently lacking, indirect evidence derived from microbiome research, SCFA biology, dietary intervention studies, and experimental models provides a biologically plausible foundation for further investigation. Perspective: We propose that restoration of luminal metabolic homeostasis through complementary modulation of microbial fermentation and luminal environmental stabilization may represent a novel adjunctive approach for reducing relapse risk in selected patients with UC receiving conventional maintenance therapy. A conceptual framework for future randomized clinical trials incorporating clinical, endoscopic, microbiome, metabolomic, and biomarker outcomes is presented. Conclusions: Current evidence supports the biological plausibility of SCFA-directed metabolic interventions in UC but remains insufficient to justify routine clinical application of pectin-kaolin therapy. Well-designed randomized controlled trials are required to determine efficacy, safety, optimal patient selection, and mechanisms of action. By integrating advances in microbiome science, intestinal metabolism, and mucosal immunology, this review provides a translational framework for the development of inexpensive, microbiome-oriented adjunctive therapies for maintenance of remission in UC.

Microplastics are widely distributed in aquatic environments, and there are concerns regarding their adverse effects on living organisms. Therefore, methods for their separation and removal from water are required. However, such technology has not yet been established. Pholiota nameko, commonly known as nameko, is an edible mushroom that secretes mucus composed mainly of pectin. In this study, it was demonstrated that a nameko mushroom mucilage solution (NMS) can act as a flocculant for microplastics and nanoplastics. For polystyrene microplastics (size: 1.0 μm), the suspension was mixed with NMS and Fe(III) for 20 s, resulting in the removal of 95.3% of the microplastics from the supernatant after 5 min. The separation of polystyrene microplastics from the water was achieved in a short time. Furthermore, when the washing wastewater of nameko was used as a flocculant for microplastic flocculation, the removal rate was 98.4%. Nanoplastics (polystyrene, size: 100 nm) were also sedimented by adding NMS and Fe(III). The removal rate (%) was 87.4%. Pectin in the NMS forms a gel with Fe(III). The zeta voltage of the microplastics is negative, and they interact with Fe(III) by Coulomb attraction. Consequently, flocs containing Fe(III), pectin, and plastic particles are formed. Microplastics and kaolin in the suspension were simultaneously flocculated and sedimented in the same manner. The rapid and highly efficient flocculation activity of NMS can be attributed to the large structure of pectin in the NMS. Based on these results, we concluded that NMS can be used as an efficient bio-flocculant for plastic particles.

Toxic dyes in wastewater threaten the environment and public health making their effective removal essential. In the present study, a novel Pectin/Pullulan/Kaolinite nanocomposite hydrogel was synthesized via chemical cross-linking of pectin, pullulan, and NaOH-intercalated kaolinite. The resulting hydrogel exhibited enhanced mechanical integrity, superior swelling capacity (1797%), and excellent dye adsorption performance. Comprehensive characterization was performed using FTIR, TGA, BET, XRD, and FESEM-EDX. Adsorption studies were carried out under varying experimental parameters, including initial dye concentration, solution pH, temperature, adsorbent dosage, ionic strength, and contact time. The nanocomposite hydrogel demonstrated qmax of 205.57 mg/g for CV and 689.65 mg/g for CR. Optimal removal efficiencies of 93.8% for CV and 84.8% for CR were achieved under specific conditions: for CV at pH 9, 40 °C, 0.5 g adsorbent, 50 mg/L dye concentration, and 300 min contact time; and for CR at pH 5, 40 °C, 0.5 g adsorbent, 10 mg/L dye concentration, and 240 min contact time. Adsorption isotherm and kinetic data were best described by the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetics, respectively. Thermodynamic analysis further confirmed the exothermic and spontaneous nature of dye adsorption. These results highlight the efficiency of PC/PL/KaO hydrogels for dye removal in wastewater treatment.

Excipients, conventionally defined as inactive additives, are potential anti-cancer therapeutics at nanoscale against various cancers. This mini-review highlighted nano-excipient potential as anti-cancer therapeutic based on recent literature (2022-2025). Metal/metal oxide nanoparticles stimulate reactive oxygen species production that promotes oxidative damage of cancer cells. Excipient nanoparticles formulating with chitosan/guar gum/arabic gum/pectin/kaolin/peptide additive trigger apoptosis and regulate metastasis. Delivery specificity of excipient nanoparticles can be promoted using targeting ligand (folic acid/hyaluronic acid) or via adaptation of cancer cell membrane that retains the targeting capabilities towards homotypic cancer cells with reduced immune surveillance. Light irradiation/ultrasound/magnetic field could be employed to activate metal-based excipient nanoparticles to initiate hyperthermia, localized electric field, Fenton-like reaction or mechanical forces that directly negate cancer growth with membrane disruption or through intracellular accumulation of cytotoxic excipient nanoparticles acting on malignant tumors. Excipient nanoparticles are expected to have milder therapeutic effects and require a prolonged treatment with higher dosages in comparison to drugs. Being drug-free, they are met with reduced manufacturing challenges such as premature drug leaching, drug instability, uncontrolled drug release, toxic metabolite formation and severe systemic adverse effects due to poor drug targeting.

Pectin is a valuable product that can be extracted from waste fruit peels. Here we propose the use of graphene oxide (GO)-based membranes for pectin concentration. The synthesized GO was functionalized with ethylenediamine (EDA) to molecularly design the GO framework. Kaolin hollow fibers with asymmetric pore distribution were used as a porous substrate for GO/EDA deposition. A GO/EDA layer with a thickness of 2.86 ± 0.24 μm was assembled on the substrate by the simple vacuum-assisted deposition method. After GO/EDA depositions, the water permeance of the pristine kaolin hollow fibers reduced from 8.46 ± 0.17 to 0.52 ± 0.03 L h-1·m-2·kPa-1. A pectin aqueous extract from orange peels was filtered at cross-flow mode through the prepared membranes and the steady-state fluxes through pristine and GO/EDA-coated hollow fibers were 56 ± 2 and 20 ± 3 L h-1 m-2, respectively. The GO/EDA-coated membrane presented greater pectin selectivity than the pristine hollow fiber. The GO/EDA-coated hollow fiber concentrated the galacturonic acid, phenolic, and methoxyl contents in 19.5, 17.4, and 29.2 %, respectively. Thus, filtration through the GO/EDA-based membrane is a suitable alternative for pectin concentration.

The global coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant morbidity and mortality, thoroughly affected daily living, and caused severe economic disruption throughout the world. Pulmonary symptoms predominate and account for most of the associated morbidity and mortality. However, extrapulmonary manifestations are common in COVID-19 infections, including gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, such as diarrhea. Diarrhea affects approximately 10% to 20% of COVID-19 patients. Diarrhea can occasionally be the presenting and only COVID-19 symptom. Diarrhea in COVID-19 subjects is usually acute but is occasionally chronic. It is typically mild-to-moderate and nonbloody. It is usually much less clinically important than pulmonary or potential thrombotic disorders. Occasionally the diarrhea can be profuse and life-threatening. The entry receptor for COVID-19, angiotensin converting enzyme-2, is found throughout the GI tract, especially in the stomach and small intestine, which provides a pathophysiologic basis for local GI infection. COVID-19 virus has been documented in feces and in GI mucosa. Treatment of COVID-19 infection, especially antibiotic therapy, is a common culprit of the diarrhea, but secondary infections including bacteria, especially Clostridioides difficile, are sometimes implicated. Workup for diarrhea in hospitalized patients usually includes routine chemistries; basic metabolic panel; and a complete hemogram; sometimes stool studies, possibly including calprotectin or lactoferrin; and occasionally abdominal CT scan or colonoscopy. Treatment for the diarrhea is intravenous fluid infusion and electrolyte supplementation as necessary, and symptomatic antidiarrheal therapy, including Loperamide, kaolin-pectin, or possible alternatives. Superinfection with C difficile should be treated expeditiously. Diarrhea is prominent in post-COVID-19 (long COVID-19), and is occasionally noted after COVID-19 vaccination. The spectrum of diarrhea in COVID-19 patients is presently reviewed including the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, evaluation, and treatment.

Natural pectin, derived from fruit residue, presented a certain flocculation performance in previous studies. However, the process of extraction and treatment affected the flocculation performance considering the uncontrollable chemical composition and the molecule structure. In this study, degree of esterification (DE), degree of amidation (DA) were used as the internal factors affecting flocculation performance. The DE/DA values of pectin were obtained through FTIR, elemental analyses, H-NMR, and titration measurements. The kaolin suspension was employed for the coagulation jar tests, and the removal of NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit) was used as the index of the flocculation performance. Results showed that the flocculation performance of pectin arising from different fruits was different, which was associated with the various preparation processes. By introducing polar groups into pectin, the flocculation was found to be related to bridging, adsorption, and charge neutralization. Based on the trends of three-dimensional response surfaces, the flocculation effect was improved with the decreased DE and the increased DA. The optimized amidated pectin was obtained by the amidation experiment, the turbidity reduction in wastewater was 99.63%. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The internal influencing factors of pectin as a flocculant were investigated. Different sources of pectin show different flocculation ability. Amidation modification can improve the flocculation performance of pectin. Response surface method to study the interaction of different influencing factors. Pectin may replace synthetic flocculants in water treatment.

We compared the catalytic effects of two polymers (soluble starch and apple pectin) on the flocculation of kaolinite suspension. Moreover, the relationship between the zeta potential value and the time when kaolin particle sedimentation occurred was verified, and the mechanism of flocculation was analyzed. Additionally, a constitutive model was proposed to simulate the non-ideal sedimentation of clay particles in an aqueous system under constant gravity. This model not only considers the inhomogeneity of the solute but also simulates the change in clay concentration with time during the deposition process. This model proposes a decay constant (α) and sedimentation coefficient (s). The model can also be used to calculate the instantaneous sedimentation rate of the clay suspensions at any time and any depth for the settling cylinder. These sedimentary characteristics were simulated by adopting the established deposition model. The results show that the model is capable of predicting the time required for the complete sedimentation of particles in the aqueous system, suggesting the feasibility of engineering wastewater treatment, site dredging, etc.

Polyacrylamide (PAM), a commonly used organic synthetic flocculant, is known to have high reduction in turbidity treatment. However, PAM is not readily degradable. In this paper, pectin as a biopolymeric flocculant is used. The objectives are (i) to determine the characteristics of both flocculants (ii) to optimize the treatment processes of both flocculants in synthetic turbid waste water. The results obtained indicated that pectin has a lower average molecular weight at 1.63 x 10(5) and PAM at 6.00 x 10(7). However, the thermal degradation results showed that the onset temperature for pectin is at 165.58 degrees C, while the highest onset temperature obtained for PAM is at 235.39 degrees C. The optimum treatment conditions for the biopolymeric flocculant for flocculating activity was at pH 3, cation concentration at 0.55 mM, and pectin concentration at 3 mg/L. In contrast, PAM was at pH 4, cation concentration >0.05 mM and PAM concentration between 13 and 30 mg/L.