A Prefatory studies on identification of anti-diabetic factor in callus cultures of Momordica cymbalaria

Abstract

Momordica cymbalaria is an underutilized folk vegetable crop in the northern region of Karnataka, India. Its fruit is consumed as diet, which has antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effect. A 17 kDa protein known as M.cy protein has been identified as anti-hyperglycaemic peptide present in fruit. The crop duration is from June to September and propagated through tuber only, while, seeds are dormant. The callus induction was achieved from explants enriched with 2, 4 D (3 mg L-1) and BAP (0.2 mg L-1). Crude protein was extracted from the callus and the seed using extraction buffer (50 mM Sodium acetate buffer, pH 4.8). The extracted protein was subjected to SDS-PAGE. The protein ladder used in the present study was pre-stained with three color, covering wide range molecular weights from 10 to 245kDa. The three bands roughly identified around 10 kDa to 25 kDa named as PF1 (Protein fraction), PF2 and PF3 were isolated from the gel and were subjected to in vitro anti-diabetic assay by á-amylase enzyme assay kit and the inhibitory activity was expressed as percentage of inhibition. All the protein fractions PF1, PF2 and PF3 showed positive for the á-Amylase enzyme assay indicating that there are other peptides present in the callus apart from the M.cy protein present in the seeds that have anti hyperglycaemic properties.