A Comparative Study on the Antibacterial Activity of Trypsin Inhibitors from the Seeds of Abelmoschus Moschatus L.

Muni Kumar.D, Siva Prasad. D

Abstract: The aim of the present study is to determine antibacterial activity associated with trypsin inhibitors (AMTI-I, II, III & IV) isolated and purified from the seeds of Abelmoschus moschatus. The inhibitors exerted differential effects on the growth of the bacterial strains tested. AMTI-I and AMTI-II, though moderately active against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas syringae and Streptococcus pyogenes, showed a strong effect on the growth of Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus at a concentration of 50 g of the inhibitors. AMTI-III and AMTI-IV, on the other hand, exerted a moderate effect in inhibiting the growth of bacterial strains at a concentration of 100 g of the inhibitors. The inhibitors did not differentiate gram positive bacteria from gram negative bacteria in their antimicrobial activity. Results obtained in the present study suggest that trypsin inhibitors AMTI-I and AMTI-II from the seeds of Abelmoschus moschatus may serve as good candidates for the development of novel antimicrobial agents.

Keywords: Trypsin inhibitors, antibacterial activity, Abelmoschus moschatus, gram positive, gram negative