The role of enzymes in the angiogenic activity of Hancornia speciosa latex

The Hancornia speciosa latex has shown angiogenic activity. Angiogenesis plays a major role in wound healing, and materials that stimulate this process could be used to develop drugs. This study aimed to explain the role of proteins in the H. speciosa serum fraction latex in angiogenesis. Hence, this material was treated with proteinase K and the proteins were inactivated. After protein inactivation, angiogenic activity was assessed with the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. The result showed that the proteins in the serum fraction are responsible for angiogenic activity. Then, the total protein content in the serum fraction and its enzymatic activity were investigated. The low protein content observed in the H. speciosa serum fraction latex suggests that this biomaterial could be used to develop new drugs with a hypoallergenic response. Despite the low protein content, there was a significant enzymatic activity of at least three enzymes in the serum fraction latex: ß-1,3 glucanase, ß-glucosidase, and proteases. These enzymes seem to influence the healing process, assisting debridement, extracellular matrix remodeling, and collagen deposition, and decreasing the chances of contamination by microorganisms. In conclusion, the enzymes in the H. speciosa serum latex are associated with the angiogenic activity of this biomaterial and may be used to assist the wound healing process.

Biochemical characterization of selected plant species from Brazilian Savannas

O Cerrado é constituído por inúmeras espécies vegetais com potencial econômico, as quais são utilizadas para os mais variados fins, como medicinal e nutricional. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar e quantificar a presença de atividade enzimática de peroxidases e proteases e fatores antinutricionais, como lectinas e inibidores de proteases, além de polifenóis e taninos em algumas espécies nativas do Cerrado. O material vegetal utilizado foram sementes de Annona crassiflora Mart. (araticum), Hymenaea courbaril L. var. courbaril (jatobá), Plathymenia reticulata Benth. (vinhático), Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam. (maminha de porca), Apeiba tibourbou Aubl. (pau jangada), Salacia crassiflora (Mart.) G. Don. (bacupari) e Sclerolobium paniculatum Vog. (carvoeiro), coletadas na cidade de Goiânia e municípios de Jataí e Caldas Novas, estado de Goiás. O uso potencial destas plantas e suas enzimas na indústria de alimentos, poderia resultar em aplicações ao aparecimento de novos produtos a partir das matérias-primas tradicionais, além do uso de novas fontes de alimentos.