title: Purification of a chitin-binding protein from Moringa oleifera seeds with potential to relieve pain and inflammation.
abstract: Moringa oleifera Lam. is a perennial multipurpose tree that has been successfully used in folk medicine to cure several inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to purify and characterize a chitin-binding protein from Moringa oleifera seeds, named Mo-CBP4, and evaluate its antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. The protein was purified by affinity chromatography on chitin followed by ion exchange chromatography. Acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions assay was used for the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity assessments. Mo-CBP4 is a glycoprotein (2.9% neutral carbohydrate) composed of two protein subunits with apparent molecular masses of 28 and 18 kDa (9 kDa in the presence of reducing agent). The intraperitoneal injection of Mo-CBP4 (3.5 and 10 mg/kg) into mice 30 min before acetic acid administration potently and significantly reduced the occurrence of abdominal writhing in a dose dependent manner by 44.7% and 100%, respectively. In addition, the oral administration of the protein (10 mg/kg) resulted in 18% and 52.8% reductions in abdominal writhing when given 30 and 60 min prior to acetic acid administration, respectively. Mo-CBP4, when administered by intraperitoneal route, also caused a significant and dose-dependent inhibition of peritoneal capillary permeability induced by acid acetic and significantly inhibited leukocyte accumulation in the peritoneal cavity. In conclusion, this pioneering study describes that the chitin-binding protein Mo-CBP4, from M. oleifera seeds, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties and scientifically supports the use of this multipurpose tree in folk medicine.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Ceara, Departamento de Bioquimica e Biologia Molecular, 60440-990, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mirella Leite
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Hermogenes David
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Jose Tadeu Abreu
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Juliana Menezes
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gifoni
authors.forename: Raquel de Oliveira
authors.initials: Rde O
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Daniele de Oliveira Bezerra
authors.initials: Dde O
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.forename: Ilka Maria
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000700:Analgesics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002686:Chitin / Q000378:metabolism*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D029588:Moringa oleifera / Q000737:chemistry*; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059748:Proteolysis; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010940:Plant Proteins; D002686:Chitin; D010450:Endopeptidases