Evaluation of Comparative Total Proteolytic Activity in Plant Lattices

Proteases catalyze the hydrolysis of a peptide bond of a protein; they are widely distributed in nature. They perform various biological functions in plants and particularly in humans they participate in zymogen activation, fibrinolysis, complement activation, blood coagulation and digestion process. Objectives: The present study focused on evaluation of in vitro total proteolytic activity from various plant lattices belongs to families such as apocynaeceae, asclepiadaceae, caricaceae, euphorbiaceae, moraceae at different pH conditions and compared with latex of Carica papaya as standard protease activity. Methods: The total protease activity in enzyme extract assayed in terms of caseinolytic activity using one percent casein substrate at 37 o C and pH 7.6 (0.2 M buffer). The soluble casein fragments released during proteolysis were measured by Lowry reaction. Protein content in enzyme extract was determined by using Folin Ciocalteau method. Results: From the present study, total proteolytic activity reported in terms of specific activity (activity/mg protein) in different pH condition and were found that majority of plants shows Protease activity in alkaline pH in comparison with water. Conclusion: The conclusion of the study states that lattices of the above selected plant families contains protease activity as common biological activity.