Alleviation of Plant and Animal Diseases through Phytoproteins

Phytoproteins of B. diffusa roots and C. aculeatum leaves have immense potential to provide resistance to plants against viral diseases. The proteins have also been shown to have some influence on plants raised under in vitro conditions. A new line was involved testing these phytoproteins for their antineoplastic property and antiviral property against animal viruses. Study was done in three lines. 1. Induction of antiviral resistance in crops such as okra, tomato, brinjal, chilli, cowpea/lobia, mungbean and papaya which are commonly susceptible to a number of virus infections. 2. Enhancement of growth of in vitro-raised plants of lime, guar and sunnhemp by adding phytoproteins from Boerhaavia diffusa and Clerodendrum aculeatum into the culture medium as well as in ex vitro conditions. 3. Anti-proliferative property of phytoproteins from B. diffusa and C. aculeatum for retardation of proliferation of human breast cancer cell lines as well as inhibition of activity of semliki forest virus in mice, phytoproteins exhibited anti-proliferative property at low doses, though cytotoxicity resulted when higher doses were used in the human breast cancer cell line.