Inhibition of nitric oxide production in the macrophage-like RAW 264.7 cell line by protein from the rhizomes of Zingiberaceae plants.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of inflammation and has been implicated in endotoxin-induced tissue injury. Zingiberaceae is a family of indigenous plants of tropical regions, many of which have traditionally been used as anti-inflammatory agents. Here, the ability of crude protein extracts from the rhizomes of 15 Zingiberaceae species to inhibit NO production in the RAW 264.7 cell line after co-stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) was evaluated. The crude protein extract of Zingiber ottensii Valeton exhibited the highest inhibitory activity, with an IC(50) value of 38.6 ± 0.34 µg protein/mL, and also suppressed the LPS- and rm-interferon (IFN)-γ-mediated increase in the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA transcript expression levels, suggesting the interference was mediated at the transcriptional level. This strong anti-inflammatory activity may have the potential to be developed as a therapeutic compound. Analytical sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and mass spectrometry revealed four main protein bands, including a likely lectin, superoxide dismutase, and cysteine protease, in the fractions related to the antioxidant activity.

An extracellular glucoamylase produced by endophytic fungus EF6.

A strain of endophytic fungus EF6 isolated from Thai medicinal plants was found to produce higher levels of extracellular glucoamylase. This strain produced glucoamylase of culture filtrate when grown on 1% soluble starch. The enzyme was purified and characterized. Purification steps involved (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, anion exchange, and gel filtration chromatography. Final purification fold was 14.49 and the yield obtained was 9.15%. The enzyme is monomeric with a molecular mass of 62.2 kDa as estimated by SDS-PAGE, and with a molecular mass of 62.031 kDa estimated by MALDI-TOF spectrometry. The temperature for maximum activity was 60 degrees C. After 30 min for incubation, glucoamylase was found to be stable lower than 50 degrees C. The activity decrease rapidly when residual activity was retained about 45% at 55 degrees C. The pH optimum of the enzyme activity was 6.0, and it was stable over a pH range of 4.0-7.0 at 50 degrees C. The activity of glucoamylase was stimulated by Ca2+, Co2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, glycerol, DMSO, DTT and EDTA, and strongly inhibited by Hg2+. Various types of starch were test, soluble starch proved to be the best substrate for digestion process. The enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of soluble starch and maltose as the substrate, the enzyme had Km values of 2.63, and 1.88 mg/ml and Vmax, values of 1.25, and 2.54 U/min/mg protein, and Vmax/Km values of 0.48 and 1.35, respectively. The internal amino acid sequences of endophytic fungus EF6 glucoamylase; RALAN HKQVV DSFRS have similarity to the sequence of the glucoamylase purified form Thermomyces lanuginosus. From all results indicated that this enzyme is a glucoamylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucanohydrolase).