[Study on the immunotoxicity of ribosome inhibiting protein of Momordica charantia].
OBJECTIVE
To separate and purify ribosome inhibiting protein (RIP) from Momordica charantia (bitter melon) seeds and to evaluate its acute toxicity and immunotoxicity in animal.


METHODS
Ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography were applied in the separating and purifying of RIP from Momordica charantia seeds. Then the acute toxicity testing of RIP in mice was conducted to obtain its half lethal dose (LD50). Active systemic anaphylaxis(ASA)test in guinea pig and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test (PCA) in rat were performed to evaluate its immunotoxicity.


RESULTS
The LD50 (iv) in mice of RIP was 25.2 mg/kg in ASA, guinea pigs of the higher and lower RIP group all appeared stong allergic responses and most of them died quickly. In PCA, obvious blue dye in skin were observed in SD rats of the RIP group.


CONCLUSIONS
RIP getting from Momordica charantia seeds had a relatively strong immunotoxicity in animals.
Wan
Li
L
Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Meng
Yan-Fa
YF
Shen
Fu-Bing
FB
Zheng
Jue-Cun
JC
Deng
Nian-Hua
NH
Zhang
Li-Shi
LS
D000818:Animals; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D029777:Momordica charantia / Q000737:chemistry*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D054788:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*
D054788:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins