A novel plant membrane proteoglycan which causes anorexia in animals

Hunger and satiety are complex interplay of several factors in human and animal species. Reduced food intake has also been observed under various pathological conditions. Earlier, we have been able to isolate an endogenous glycoprotein from erythrocyte membranes, which causes anorexia in rats. In the present study, a similar anorexigenic proteoglycan from Mung bean sprout membranes has been isolated and purified. The proteoglycan (50 kDa) consisted of 70–85% carbohydrate with galactose, glucose galactosamine and mannose as the main sugars. Protein part on analysis showed higher glutamic acid and serine content. This proteoglycan reduces food intake when injected in rats deprived of food for 96 hr as well as normally fed rats, mice and rabbits without any rebound. The TCA-soluble proteoglycan from different plant sources have also been compared for their anorexigenic activity. The similarities observed among plant and animal cell membrane proteoglycans with satietins isolated from human blood plasma could be due to membrane origin of satietins. (Mol Cell Biochem120: 111–117, 1993)