503
Volume 5, Issue 10: Special Issue
(EJAR)
ISSN: 2181-2020
MPHAPP
THE 6TH INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL
CONFERENCE
“
MODERN PHARMACEUTICS: ACTUAL
PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS
”
TASHKENT, OCTOBER 17, 2025
in-academy.uz
BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF RIBOSOME-INACTIVATING PROTEINS ISOLATED
FROM NIGELLA SATIVA (BLACK SEED)
Qoraboyeva B.B.
Oripova M.J.
Xashimova.Z.S.
Oshepkova Yu.I.
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan,
Tashkent city, Republic of Uzbekistan
e-mail: biochem@uzsci.net
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17343425
One of the most important directions in the development of new biotechnologies is the creation
of pharmacological preparations that have a highly specific effect on cells or molecules in the
organism. Currently, proteins or their conjugates are attracting particular interest from researchers in
the creation of highly selective drugs. In this context, plant toxins that completely stop protein
synthesis in the cell by switching ribosomes to an inactive state are being actively studied. These
toxins are collectively called Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins (RIPs).
Among the proteins isolated from plants, Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins (RIPs) occupy a
special place. These proteins target the ribosomes in eukaryotic cells, exhibiting N-glycosidase
activity towards the conserved A4324 nucleotide within their 28S rRNA. This nucleotide is essential
for the functional activity of the ribosome, and its depurination results in the cessation of protein
biosynthesis. RIPs possess numerous biological activities, among which their antibacterial, antiviral,
antitumor, and antifungal properties deserve special attention. Recent research provides a basis for a
deeper understanding of the medicinal and biochemical properties of RIPs. Nevertheless, the
biological functions of plant RIPs are still insufficiently studied, and research in this area is a current
and pressing issue.
It is known that
Nigella sativa
is a source of physiologically active substances promising for
medicine. In this regard, our previous studies involved the isolation of RIPs fractions from the seeds
of this plant. Due to the numerous scientific publications in recent years confirming that RIPs can
show high efficacy in conjugates for developing selective antiviral and anticancer agents, the
cytotoxic activity of the extract and its main isolated fraction—Ns rip type-1—was studied against
the HeLa cell line within the framework of this research.
Cells treated with no substance were used as the control group, where the MTT uptake into the
cells was set at 100% (0% growth inhibition). For comparison, Cisplatin was selected as a standard
pharmacological agent directed at slowing down or stopping the proliferation of tumor cells. The
results are presented in the table below:
Effect of Extract and Fractions Isolated from Black Cumin Seeds on Cell Culture HeLa, μg/ml
Samples
MTT penetration into the cells %
MTT-induced reduction in cell growth)
%
100
10
1
100
10
1
Extract
24,68±0,
6
96,44±0,
3
112,61±0,2
75,32±0,1
3,56±0,2
-
Ns rip 1-tip
14,98±0,
1
95,83±0,
7
104,07±0,4
85,02±0,2
4,17±0,6
-
Cisplatin
20,1±0,3 65,5±0,6
88,3±0,31
79,1±0,4
34,5±0,2
11,7±0,1
504
Volume 5, Issue 10: Special Issue
(EJAR)
ISSN: 2181-2020
MPHAPP
THE 6TH INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL
CONFERENCE
“
MODERN PHARMACEUTICS: ACTUAL
PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS
”
TASHKENT, OCTOBER 17, 2025
in-academy.uz
Statistically significant difference compared to the control group P<0.05.
In conclusion, the cytotoxic activity of the extract was 75.32% at a dose of 100 μg/ml. This
activity increased up to 85.02% in the purified fraction containing type-1 RIPs. The fractions studied
at doses of 1 μg/ml and 10 μg/ml showed no cytotoxic effect. It was observed that the cytotoxic
activity of the extract increased during the purification process.
