Altered enzyme activity in green gram seeds treated with antimitotic herbal drugs

Seed germination inhibition in green gram (Phaseolus radiatus) by compounds inhibitory to cell division has been previously shown to be an in vitro assay mechanism for the screening of antimitotic drugs with anticancer potential. While these studies sought to demonstrate the retardation of cell growth and proliferation as a function of drug treatment, the inhibition of selected hydrolytic enzymes in germinating seeds as a means to further substantiate the biochemical efficacy of these drug molecules forms the objective of the present study. The enzymes selected include amylase and alkaline phosphatase- both of which are enhanced during seed germination as well as in different human metabolic disorders. Treatment with Kokilaksha (abbreviated as K-drug), a herbal drug derived from Asteracantha longifolia, resulted in significant dose-dependent reduction in the specific activities of both the hydrolytic enzymes within the germinating seeds. Further, significant inhibition of water uptake by imbibition as well as delayed morphogenesis was observed in the K-drug treated seeds, monitored over 24-120h. Similarly the effects of vincristine against these parameters were also studied, for comparison. Since the K-drug shows promise in treatment of human metabolic disorders, involving the elevation of amylolytic and alkaline phosphatase enzymes, the same deserves clinical investigation.