Antihelmintic property of erythoragglutinins of Dregea volubilis

摘要

The defensive role of erythroagglutinins present in many plants was critically assessed by Chrispeels and Raikhel (1991). These proteins are shown to interact with glycoconjugates of other organisms. They are thought to interfere with normal functioning of the organisms. The erythroagglutinins are also shown to have antiviral activity, in vitro, towards some animal and human viruses having glycoconjugates in their virions. (Balzarini et al., 1992). The antibacterial activity of these proteins is again due to their interaction with surface glycoproteins of bacteria. The antifungal property of these type of proteins is also due to the binding of these proteins to the membrane carbohydrate residues, thereby preventing the elongation and multiplication of fungal hyphae (Van Parijs. et al., 1991). The antiinsect activity is ascribed due to the interaction of luminal epithelial cell lining residues of insect gut, with these proteins, leading to the deleterious effect on digestion and growth of insect (Czapla and Lang 1990). Taking into consideration, the above fact and properties of erythrocyte agglutinating proteins, the experiments were carried out with erythroagglutinins of leaf, fruitcoat and seed of Dregea volubilis on Haemonchus contortus, the gut helminth parasite of cattle.