Isolation and characterization of novel protein with anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties from Aloe vera leaf gel

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2010.09.010

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

Volume 48, Issue 1, 1 January 2011, Pages 38-43

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2010.09.010 Get rights and content

Abstract

The Aloe protein of 14 kDa from the Aloe vera leaf gel was isolated by an ion exchange chromatography using DEAE-cellulose and CM-cellulose column. The purified Aloe protein exhibited a potent anti-fungal activity against Candida paraprilosis, Candida krusei and Candida albicans. In addition, the purified Aloe protein also showed an anti-inflammatory property against pure lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase-2 with 84% and 73% inhibition, respectively, and was verified by binding with these proteins by real time method by the phenomenon of surface plasmon resonance. This Aloe protein is a novel protein possessing antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties and thus sets a platform to be used as a medicinal plant product.

Introduction

Since 1986 Aloe vera has been used as a traditional medicine and as an ingredient in many cosmetic products. It has gained high importance for its diverse therapeutic properties. The plant, being succulent, contains 99.5 per cent water and the remaining solid material contains over 75 different ingredients including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, sugars, anthraquinones or phenolic compounds, lignin, tannic acids, polysaccharide, glycoproteins, saponins, sterols, amino acids and salicylic acid [1]. A. vera provides nutrition, shows anti-inflammatory action and has a wide range of antimicrobial activity [1]. In-vitro experiments have been carried out on numerous organisms and have regularly shown that, in normal strength, A. vera is either bactericidal or bacteriostatic against a number of common wound pathogens like Candida infections.

Scientific research shows strong immunomodulatory and antitumor properties [2] of A. vera polysaccharides that help to boosts the immune system function [3] while destroying cancer tumors [1], [4]. It inhibits pain-producing substances like thromboxane & bradykinin [1], [5], [6], [7], [8]. It protects the body from oxidative stress, which showed the anti-oxidant effect. It alkalizes the body, helping to balance overly acidic dietary habits. It boosts the oxygenation of blood, thereby enhancing the quality of the blood and has a significant impact on reducing heart attacks and strokes. Eating A. vera is like adding an all-natural non-stick additive to the blood flow [9], [10], [11]. It stabilizes blood sugar and reduces triglycerides in diabetics [1]. This study reports the isolation and characterization of a novel protein with antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties of molecular weight 14 kDa from A. vera leaf gel.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

A. vera was provided from the nearby garden. DEAE-cellulose was purchased from GE Healthcare and CM-cellulose was purchased from Sigma. All chemicals were of research grade purchased from Sigma and Merck and the protein molecular mass marker was from Fermentas. The sensor chip CM5, surfactant P20, the amine coupling kit containing NHS, EDC and ethanolamine hydrochloride was purchased from Pharmacia Biosensor AB, Uppsala, Sweden.

Purification of the Aloe protein from the leaf-gel of A. vera

The chromatographic fractions were assayed for antifungal activity. The unadsorbed fraction of DEAE-cellulose column gave positive antifungal test and this unadsorbed fraction was in turn applied on the CM-cellulose column, it yielded an inactive unbound fraction and active adsorbed fraction when eluted with 0.6 M NaCl in MES buffer (pH 4.5). Fig. 1 showed the molecular mass of crude sample, unadsorbed fraction from DEAE-cellulose and 0.6 M NaCl fraction CM-cellulose column.

The homogenized crude

Discussion

A. vera has been traditionally used worldwide as a folk medicine for various diseases because of its multiple biological activities. The species is frequently cited as being used in many herbal medicines. There is some preliminary evidence that A. vera extracts may be useful in the treatment of wound [24] and burn healing [1], diabetes [25], [26] and elevated blood lipids [27] in humans. These positive effects are thought to be due to the presence of compounds such as polysaccharides, mannans,

Conclusion

The present study reveals the isolation of novel protein of 14 kDa, which showed different functional aspects like anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory. This Aloe protein did not exhibit protease activity, however it inhibited trypsin showing protease inhibitory function. Though the N-terminal sequence showed it to be a lectin like protein but the absence of hemagglutinating activity confirmed it to be an antifungal protein other than lectin in A. vera. This study will further explore different

Acknowledgement

Authors acknowledge Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences for providing clinical isolates strains for the experiment.

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Isolation and characterization of novel protein with anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties from Aloe vera leaf gel

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Purification of the Aloe protein from the leaf-gel of A. vera

Discussion

Conclusion

Acknowledgement

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

International Immunopharmacology

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

Protein Expression and Purification

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

Sensors and Actuators

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters

Seminars in Integrative Medicine

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Phytotherapy Research

Cancer Research

Molecules

British Journal of General Practice

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science