RESUMO
Health related and environmental side effects associated with conventional chemical coagulants used in water treatment has prompted the search for natural alternatives, especially of plant origin. This study investigated the water coagulation activities of a purified protein from Moringa oleifera seeds on the water from Opa reservoir of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. M. oleifera coagulant protein (MoCP) was purified via ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography respectively. Subunit and native molecular weight as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and gel filtration was 14.2 kDa and 30.3 kDa respectively. Modified jar test was used to investigate the coagulation activity of the purified protein in comparison to that of conventional chemical coagulant (aluminium sulphate). MoCP significantly reduced turbidity (p < 0.05) and organic load which contributed to about 58.18% reduction in total coliform of treated water. MoCP also elicited promising antimicrobial activity against bacterial isolates in the water from Opa reservoir.
RESUMO
A haemagglutinating protein from the saline extracts of Kalanchoe crenata leaves, which agglutinate all human blood types, was purified to homogeneity by ion-exchange chromatography on a DEAE-Cellulose column followed by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-100 column. The purified protein showed one band, both in non-denaturing PAGE and SDS-PAGE. The M(r) that was determined by SDS-PAGE was 44,000 Da and that estimated from gel filtration was 47,000. Treatment of the haemagglutinating protein with 5 mM EDTA diminished the haemagglutinating activity to 50% of the original level. The addition of divalent cations, 10 mM Mg(2+), 10 mM Mn(2+), or 10mM Ba(2+), totally restored and enhanced the activity. The protein showed maximum activity over the 3-7 pH range and was heat-resistant. It was also a glycoprotein containing about 1.5% carbohydrate.
