A Comparative Study on the Antibacterial Activity of Trypsin Inhibitors from the Seeds of Abelmoschus Moschatus L.

The aim of the present study is to determine antibacterial activity associated with trypsin inhibitors (AMTI-I, II, III& IV) isolated and purified from the seeds of Abelmoschus moschatus. The inhibitors exerted differential effects on the growth of the bacterial strains tested. AMTI-I and AMTI-II, though moderately active against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas syringae and Streptococcus pyogenes, showed a strong effect on the growth of Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus at a concentration of 50 g of the inhibitors. AMTI-III and AMTI-IV, on the other hand, exerted a moderate effect in inhibiting the growth of bacterial strains at a concentration of 100 g of the inhibitors. The inhibitors did not differentiate gram positive bacteria from gram negative bacteria in their antimicrobial activity. Results obtained in the present study suggest that trypsin inhibitors AMTI-I and AMTI-II from the seeds of Abelmoschus moschatus may serve as good candidates for the development of novel antimicrobial agents.