Paper Details

PJB-2026-1515

Isolation and characterization of bioactive polysaccharides from okra mucilage: antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties

Muhammad Zakria, Imdad Ullah Khan, Asad Ullah, Yong Sun Moon, Sajid Ali and Ayaz Ahmad
Abstract

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Plant-derived mucilage has received considerable attention due to its extensive applications in the formulation and modification of pharmaceuticals, functional foods, and nutraceuticals. The current study aimed to isolate water-soluble polysaccharides from okra pods' mucilage and investigate their biological prospects. Mucilage was extracted by immersing okra pods in distilled water for 24 hours and precipitated in 75% ethanol. The total carbohydrate content of crude mucilage, water-soluble, and ethanol-soluble polysaccharide fractions was determined using the phenol-sulphuric acid method. These fractions were then subjected to different biological assays, including antioxidant, antibacterial, In vitro alpha amylase inhibition, and In vitro and In vivo anti-inflammatory assays. The water-soluble fraction demonstrated notable antibacterial activity, with an inhibition zone of 3.89 ± 0.34 mm against K. pneumonie, while the crude fraction showed minimal activity against Klebsiella and Salmonella spp. The water-soluble polysaccharide fraction exhibited the highest percent radical scavenging activity, with the lowest EC₅₀ value of 785.5 μg/mL, followed by the ethanol-soluble fraction with an EC₅₀ of 987.21 μg/mL. Furthermore, the water-soluble polysaccharides demonstrated significant In vitro α-amylase inhibitory activity and membrane-stabilizing potential in hypotonicity-induced hemolysis of human erythrocytes. Notably, it also markedly reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema, indicating a strong anti-inflammatory effect In vivo. At higher concentrations, this fraction effectively reduced the inflammation, highlighting its potential as a natural anti-inflammatory agent. Our results conclude that the water-soluble polysaccharides present in the mucilage of okra pods and seeds possess promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and could be recommended for managing various inflammatory disorders. Further biochemical and structural characterization of these polysaccharides will broaden our knowledge of the potential role of these polysaccharides in combating inflammatory diseases and improving human health

To Cite this article: Zakria, M., I.U. Khan, A. Ullah, Y.S. Moon, S. Ali and A. Ahmad. 2026. Isolation and characterization of bioactive polysaccharides from okra mucilage: antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Pak. J. Bot., 58(4): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2026-4(9)  
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