30Apr 2014

Effect of Silk protein (sericin) on the growth and proliferation of Leishmania donovani, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis

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Silk protein (Sericin) is a protein removed from the silk cocoons which possesses many biological activities. In this study, we investigated the anti-leishmanial properties of Sericin from the VL endemic area of Bihar, India and its effect on Leishmania donovani (Ld) promastigotes in vitro at 24h, 48h and 72 h after initiation of culture. Sericin, a silk protein (SP), is one of the main constituents of silk cocoons, comprising 20-30% of total cocoon weight [1]. We further studied the minimum effective concentrations as well as the effect on promastigotes viability and the cell cytotoxicity on human peripheral blood mono nuclear cells on sericin extracts that induced signi?cant promastigotes killing. Effect-based dose ?nding analysis revealed that the threshold concentration of Sericin 10 µg/ml after 48h culture. The present study provides scienti?c data that support the protective effect of silk protein (sericin) against visceral leishmaniasis (VL) control.


[Dr. Akhilesh Kumar (2014); Effect of Silk protein (sericin) on the growth and proliferation of Leishmania donovani, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis Int. J. of Adv. Res. 2 (Apr). 0] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com


Dr. Akhilesh Kumar