Immunosuppressive activity of crude proteases from Ficus benghalensis on human whole blood using flow cytometry

Abstract

Investigations have been carried out on basic protease extracted from the leaves of Ficus benghalensis using PBS (phosphate buffered saline, pH 9) buffer pertaining to determine its protein content through Nanodrop and also measured its protease content against specific protein antigen i.e. Bovine serum albumin (BSA; 1 mg/ml) using crude enzyme of protein content. In addition, exposure of basic protease (diluted and concentrated) on virally infected human whole blood in order to validate its immunopharmacological activity using flow cytometry. The results showed that leaves of Ficus benghalensis at pH 9 showed protein (9.321 mg/ml) content using Tris HCl and ice cold acetone and also estimate its protease (1.666 mg/ml) content using BSA and citrate buffer. After acquiring the protease content and examined its effect on virally infected human whole blood using diluted and concentrated proteases (0.78 and 0.166 mg; 100 µl) determined through flow cytometry. The results showed that the maximum effect was observed at 0.166 mg (pH 9). Overall, protease studies of Ficus benghalensis against BSA using PBS buffer (pH 9) showed its immunosuppressive effect against virally infected human whole blood.