Occurrence and some properties of a virus inhibitors extracted from legume seeds

ABSTRACT

Seed extracts from 18 species of the family Leguminosae were tested for inhibitory activity against tobacco necrosis virus [TNV] onto Phaseolus vulgaris L. Aqueous crude seed extracts of all the species were inhibitory to virus infection but to varying degrees. Twelve out of 18 examined species showed potent inhibition [80 - 98%]. The inhibitory activity of the majority of species was decreased on dilution [1 1000] suggesting that they act as virus inhibitors and not inactivators. Further dilution of the extracts of a few species revealed the presence of an inhibitor which decreased and an augmenter which increased the number of lesions. The heated seed extracts fall into four categories Those which are thermolabile inhibitors, those which are thermostable inhibitors, those which are thermostable augementers and those which inhibitory activity increased by heating. Ethanol treatment indicated that the inhibitors of all tested extracts were composed, at least in part, of proteins or glycoproteins