Biochemical characterisation of a Kunitz-type inhibitor from Tamarindus indica L. seeds and its efficacy in reducing plasma leptin in an experimental model of obesity

J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2018 Dec;33(1):334-348. doi: 10.1080/14756366.2017.1419220.

Abstract

A trypsin inhibitor isolated from tamarind seed (TTI) has satietogenic effects in animals, increasing the cholecystokinin (CCK) in eutrophy and reducing leptin in obesity. We purified TTI (pTTI), characterised, and observed its effect upon CCK and leptin in obese Wistar rats. By HPLC, and after amplification of resolution, two protein fractions were observed: Fr1 and Fr2, with average mass of [M + 14H]+ = 19,594,690 Da and [M + 13H]+ = 19,578,266 Da, respectively. The protein fractions showed 54 and 53 amino acid residues with the same sequence. pTTI presented resistance to temperature and pH variations; IC50 was 2.7 × 10-10 mol.L-1 and Ki was 2.9 × 10-11 mol.L-1. The 2-DE revealed spots with isoelectric points between pH 5 and 6, and one near pH 8. pTTI action on leptin decrease was confirmed. We conclude that pTTI is a Kunitz trypsin inhibitor with possible biotechnological health-related application.

Keywords: CCK; Tamarind; Wistar rats; antitryptic.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / pharmacology*
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Leptin / blood*
  • Male
  • Obesity / blood*
  • Obesity / drug therapy*
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / isolation & purification
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry
  • Plant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Plant Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Seeds / chemistry
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tamarindus / chemistry*
  • Trypsin / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Obesity Agents
  • Kunitz-type protease inhibitor, plant
  • Leptin
  • Peptides
  • Plant Proteins
  • Trypsin

Grants and funding

This work received the financial support of the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientítico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (scholarship) and Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Rio Grande do Norte (FAPERN) Brazilian research supporting agencies [FAPERN/CAPES 006/2014].