Asclepain cI, a proteolytic enzyme from Asclepias curassav

What this paper is about

Asclepain cI is the main protein-digesting enzyme in the latex of tropical milkweed. This study tested it against Helicobacter pylori, the stomach bacterium behind most ulcers, which the WHO lists as a high priority for new antibiotics.

Laboratory work on the isolated enzyme, not a treatment.

Summarised here from the abstract below. Not the authors’ words.

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram negative bacterium most frequently associated with human gastrointestinal infections worldwide. The increasing occurrence of antibiotic-resistant isolates of H. pylori constitutes a challenge. The eradication of the microorganism is currently being considered a "high priority" by the World Health Organization (WHO). In this context, bioactive compounds found in natural products seem to be an effective therapeutic option to develop new antibiotics against the pathogen. In this study, we investigated the effect of asclepain cI, the main purified proteolytic enzyme of the latex of petioles and stems from Asclepia curassavica L. (Asclepiadaceae), a South American native plant, against H. pylori; in order to obtain a natural therapeutic adjuvant and a safe nutraceutical product. Asclepain cI showed antibacterial activity against reference strains and drug-resistant clinical isolates of H. pylori in vitro. A range of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) from 1 to 2 μg/ml and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) from 2 to 4 μg/ml was obtained, respectively. The action of asclepain cI on the transcription of omp18, ureA, flaA genes showed a significantly decreased expression of the selected pathogenic factors. Furthermore, asclepain cI did not induce toxic effects at the concentrations assayed. Asclepain cI could be considered a highly feasible option to be used as a natural therapeutic adjuvant and a safe nutraceutical product against H. pylori.

Abstract reproduced from the published paper, which is licensed CC BY. Copyright remains with the authors.

Key terms

Helicobacter PyloriAntimicrobial Proteolytic EnzymeAsclepain CiAsclepia Curassavica L. (Asclepiadaceae)Natural Therapeutic AdjuvantSafe Nutraceutical Product

Milkweeds in this paper

Tropical Milkweed Asclepias curassavica

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APA

Milkweed USA. (2026). Asclepain cI, a proteolytic enzyme from Asclepias curassavica L., a south American plant, against Helicobacter pylori (listing). Retrieved DATE, from https://milkweedusa.com/research/asclepain-ci-a-proteolytic-enzyme-from-asclepias-curassavica-l-2022/

MLA

"Asclepain cI, a proteolytic enzyme from Asclepias curassavica L., a south American plant, against Helicobacter pylori (listing)." Milkweed USA, 2026, https://milkweedusa.com/research/asclepain-ci-a-proteolytic-enzyme-from-asclepias-curassavica-l-2022/. Accessed DATE.

Chicago

Milkweed USA. "Asclepain cI, a proteolytic enzyme from Asclepias curassavica L., a south American plant, against Helicobacter pylori (listing)." Last modified 2026-08-01. Accessed DATE. https://milkweedusa.com/research/asclepain-ci-a-proteolytic-enzyme-from-asclepias-curassavica-l-2022/.

BibTeX

@misc{milkweedusa_researchasclepainciaproteoly,
  title  = {Asclepain cI, a proteolytic enzyme from Asclepias curassavica L., a south American plant, against Helicobacter pylori (listing)},
  author = {{Milkweed USA}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://milkweedusa.com/research/asclepain-ci-a-proteolytic-enzyme-from-asclepias-curassavica-l-2022/},
  note   = {Accessed DATE}
}

Asclepain cI, a proteolytic enzyme from Asclepias curassavica L., a south American plant, against Helicobacter pylori