Isolation and Purification of Subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) Proteinase Inhibitors

Subabul (Leucaena leucocephala, family: Leguminoceae, sub family: Mimosacea) is an ornamental tree used as fodder and firewood, which is reported to have proteinase inhibitors (PIs) that inhibits digestive enzymes. Subabul PIs could be of potential use as insecticide against many economically important pests in purified form. Therefore, this study attempted to analyse the distribution and concentration of subabul trypsin inhibitors in the different parts of the Subabul tree. Protein was extracted from leaf, seeds (at different interval) and roots of subabul and was analysed for trypsin inhibitory activity. Seeds had high quantity of subabul trypsin inhibitors and it increased towards seed maturity. In conclusion, PIs in subabul are developmentally regulated accumulating in the later stages of seeds and tissue specific confining their activity to seeds only and show higher expression in mature seeds.