Abstract
BackgroundCorydalis cava Schweigg. & Koerte, the plant of numerous pharmacological activities, together with the studied earlier by our group Chelidonium majus L. (Greater Celandine), belong to the family Papaveraceae. The plant grows in Central and South Europe and produces the sizeable subterraneous tubers, empty inside, which are extremely resistant to various pathogen attacks. The Corydalis sp. tubers are a rich source of many biologically active substances, with the extensive use in European and Asian folk medicine. They have analgetic, sedating, narcotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-tumour activities. On the other hand, there is no information about possible biological activities of proteins contained in Corydalis cava tubers.MethodsNucleolytic proteins were isolated from the tubers of C. cava by separation on a heparin column and tested for DNase activity. Protein fractions showing nucleolytic activity were tested for cytotoxic activity in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells. Cultures of HeLa cells were conducted in the presence of three protein concentrations: 42, 83 and 167 ng/ml during 48 h. Viability of cell cultures was appraised using XTT colorimetric test. Protein fractions were separated and protein bands were excised and sent for identification by mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS).ResultsThe studied protein fractions showed an inhibiting effect on mitochondrial activity of HeLa cells, depending on the administered dose of proteins. The most pronounced effect was obtained with the highest concentration of the protein (167 ng/ml) - 43.45 ± 3% mitochondrial activity of HeLa cells were inhibited. Mass spectrometry results for the proteins of applied fractions showed that they contained plant defense- and pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins.ConclusionsThe cytotoxic effect of studied proteins toward HeLa cell line cells has been evident and dependent on increasing dose of the protein. The present study, most probably, represents the first investigations on the effect of purified PR proteins from tuber extracts of a pharmacologically active plant on cell lines.
Highlights
Corydalis cava Schweigg. & Koerte, the plant of numerous pharmacological activities, together with the studied earlier by our group Chelidonium majus L. (Greater Celandine), belong to the family Papaveraceae
We have recently discovered that purified plant proteins from Chelidonium majus milky sap with nucleolytic activity, which probably belong to pathogenesis-related (PR) protein family, are capable of inducing apoptosis in human cervical cancer HeLa cells [17]
Isolation and purification of proteins from Corydalis cava tuber extracts on a heparin column In order to evaluate if biological activity of Corydalis tuber extracts is related to the proteins contained in them, the proteins of nucleolytic activity were isolated from the tubers by purification on a HT Heparin column (Figure 1A) using ÄKTA ExplorerTM chromatographic system (Amersham Biosciences)
Summary
Corydalis cava Schweigg. & Koerte, the plant of numerous pharmacological activities, together with the studied earlier by our group Chelidonium majus L. (Greater Celandine), belong to the family Papaveraceae. Tubers are a rich source of many biologically active substances, with the extensive use in European and Asian folk medicine. Plants from the family Papaveraceae are frequently used in traditional medicine as a remedy for treatment of several diseases. Isoquinoline alkaloids contained in alcohol extracts of tubers in many species of Corydalis, affect metabolism of neurotransmitters [10]. Active compounds in such extracts include alkaloids, such as bulbocapnine, corydaline and corydine [11]. Different findings show that all of them may be potentially toxic for human either alone or in combination [13,14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
