Actividad proteolítica de extractos enzimáticos obtenidos de plantas de la familia Bromeliaceae / Proteolytic activity of enzymatic extracts from plants of the Bromeliaceae family

Las enzimas proteolíticas aisladas de plantas de la familia Bromeliaceae se utilizan ampliamente en la industria médica, biotecnológica y alimenticia. Los estudios realizados en los últimos años sobre la actividad contra metástasis y tumores de las cisteíno-proteasas hacen que se incremente el interés por explorar nuevas fuentes naturales de obtención de fitoproteasas. En el presente trabajo se evaluó la actividad proteolítica de extractos enzimáticos obtenidos a partir de diferentes órganos de plantas de la familia Bromeliaceae. Se colectaron y clasificaron cinco grupos. Las plantas que se colectaron pertenecen a 3 géneros de la mencionada familia: 3 grupos son del género Tillandsia, 1 es del género Guzmania y otro del género Hohenbergia. Los mayores índices de actividad específica (3,3 U/mg de proteínas) se obtuvieron en los preparados obtenidos a partir de diferentes órganos de Hohenbergia penduliflora Mez, de cuyos extractos obtenidos se evaluó la influencia del pH de extracción y la actividad específica fue superior al realizarla a pH 3 a partir de sus tallos.

The proteolytic enzymes isolated from the Bromeliaceae family are widely used in the medical, biotechnological, and food industries. The studies conducted in recent years on the activity against metastasis and cysteine-proteases, increase the interest in screening new natural sources of obtention of phytoproteases. In the present paper, the authors assessed the proteolytic activity of enzymatic extracts obtained from different organs of the Bromeliaceae family plants. Five groups were collected and classified. Plants obtained belong to three genuses of the above mentioned family: 3 groups are of genus Tillandsia , one of genus Guzmania , and the other of genus Hohenbergia . The highest rates of specific activity (3.3 U/mg of proteins) were attained in preparations obtained from different organs of Hohenbergia penduliflora Mez. from whose extracts the influence of extraction pH was assessed. The specific activity was greater on carrying it out at pH3, starting from their stalks.

Callus culture for biomass production of milk thistle as a potential source of milk clotting peptidases

The objective of this work was the optimization of the conditions of in vitro culture for callus production of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (Asteraceae). Sections of cotyledons, previously disinfected by washing successively with ethanol 70º, NaClO (10 percent w/v) and Tween 20 (0.05 percent v/v) and rinsing with sterile distilled water, were used as explants. For its initial culture, B5 medium supplemented with BA and 2,4-D solidified with phytagel was used, and a 63 percent survival was achieved. To obtain callus, two solid media were assayed (S1 and S2) using B5 medium supplemented with growth regulators (BA and 2,4-D or NAA and BA, respectively). The calli were grown at 25ºC during 45 days in darkness. Growth kinetics was studied using S1 medium obtaining a typical growth curve with an exponential phase after 14 days of incubation (rate of growth 0.005 g dry weight/ day) and stationary phase after 35 days. The rate of growth in S2 medium was slower, and rhizogenesis was observed starting on the fifth week of incubation. From these results, the best culture medium for callus production of Silybum marianum was S1 medium.