Isolation, Molecular Characterization, and Antimicrobial Profiling of Fructans from Cichorium intybus
Corresponding author: Ezza Shahid
Abstract
Background: Fructans are fructose-based oligomers that function as reserve carbohydrates in several plant species, with notable abundance in the Asteraceae family. In Cichorium intybus (chicory), fructan biosynthesis is regulated by two key enzymes, sucrose:sucrose 1-fructosyltransferase (1-SST) and fructan:fructan 1-fructosyltransferase (1-FFT). Objective: The present study aimed to isolate, purify, and characterize fructans from chicory, alongside assessing their antimicrobial potential and associated genetic markers. Methods: Organic extracts were prepared using NaOH, HCl, ethanol, and chloroform, and their antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Genomic DNA was isolated using the CTAB method, followed by PCR amplification with 1-SST and 1-FFT primers, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. Results: Chloroform and NaOH extracts exhibited the strongest antibacterial effects. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis confirmed high similarity (>97%) of chicory gene sequences with related species, while revealing distinct SST and FFT sequences unique to C. intybus. Phylogenetic clustering linked chicory genes with members of Taraxacum, Lactuca, and Cynara, all known for fructan biosynthesis. Conclusion: These findings highlight chicory as a rich source of fructans with potential applications in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and biotechnological processes, while also providing molecular insights into its unique fructan biosynthetic genes.
Keywords: Inulin; 1-SST; 1-FFT; PCR amplification; Phylogenetic analysis; Antimicrobial activity; Functional foods
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Funding
No external funding was received for this research.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Data availability
The data supporting the findings of this study are available in the laboratory records of the Institute of Biological Sciences, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan 64200, Pakistan, and are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Author contributions
Ezza Shahid: Conceptualization, methodology, investigation, experimental analysis, data collection, formal analysis, and writing – original draft. Rabbia Shafqat: Supervision, validation, data interpretation, critical review, and writing – review and editing. Both authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to be accountable for their respective contributions to the work.
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AI-assisted tools were used for language improvement, structural reorganization, and journal formatting. The authors remain responsible for the accuracy of the scientific content, data, citations, authorship, and final conclusions.
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Ezza Shahid*, Rabbia Shafqat. Isolation, Molecular Characterization, and Antimicrobial Profiling of Fructans from Cichorium intybus. Journal of Biological and Sustainability Sciences. 2025;1(1):33-39. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21510573