Identification and Evaluation of Trypsin Inhibitor in the Seed Extracts of Butea Monosperma (Flame of Forest)

Protease inhibitors are ubiquitously distributed in nature and have gained importance due to their potential applications in medicine, agriculture and biotechnology. Flame of forest (Butea monosperma) seed extracts have been analyzed for the presence of antitryptic activity. Results indicate significant antitryptic activity at varying concentration of ammonium sulphate fractionated sample. The extent of inhibition was maximum at 15min upto a concentration of 100ug and 200ug of ammonium sulphate fractionated protein. The percent inhibition as a function of time was largely unaffected for samples boiled at 100°C and refrigerated at 4°C; whereas samples treated at 60°C showed decline in caseinolytic activity. The effect of pH on the inhibitory potential indicates that inhibition was unaffected in a broad range of pH. This is the first report of antitryptic potential in seed extracts of (Butea monosperma) which could be further studied for its efficacy on insect gut proteases and suitability in insect pest management programmes.