title: Arabinogalactan protein from Arachis hypogaea: role as carrier in drug-formulations.
abstract: Arabinogalactan protein (AGP) a highly water-soluble glyco-conjugate from groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seedling was isolated and purified by precipitation with beta-glucosyl Yariv reagent. Quantification of AGP was done by gel diffusion assay. Purified AGP was conjugated to amphotericin-B (AmB) by Schiff base reaction at pH 11.0, with aim to prepare a water-injectable lesser toxic AGP-AmB conjugate without affecting AmB antifungal potential. The AGP-AmB conjugate antifungal activity was assayed by serial broth dilution and disc method against several Candida albicans clinical isolates. Both AmB and AGP-AmB showed similar MICs and MFCs activities, indicating that AGP do not reduced the antifungal activity of AmB. However, the in vitro and in vivo toxicity assays revealed that AGP-AmB conjugate was lesser toxic than AmB, as high MTD (45 mg/kg body weight) was observed. It is suggested that AGP could be a potent carrier in AmB formulation, which may result in effective treatment of fungal infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India.
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parveen
authors.forename: Ashish D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Ramasare
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prasad
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D010367:Arachis / Q000737:chemistry; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009088:Mucoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012756:Sheep; D012995:Solubility; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D009088:Mucoproteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; C006619:arabinogalactan proteins; D014867:Water; D000666:Amphotericin B