Experientia

, Volume 43, Issue 5, pp 578–579 | Cite as

Debriding ability of a novel multi-enzyme preparation isolated from Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba)

  • D. Campbell
  • L. Hellgren
  • B. Karlstam
  • J. Vincent
Short Communications

Summary

The wound-debriding activity of various types of proteolytic enzymes and proteases from Antarctic krill (multi-enzyme system consisting of both endo- and exopeptidases) was evaluated. The results, based on the enzymatically acieved weight reduction of a necrotic animal material (excised rat skin) in vitro, clearly showed that the multi-enzyme system (krill) had a higher degrading activity than the single enzyme preparation, or that with only a few enzymes. The debriding effect of the krill enzymes was markedly related to the enzyme concentration, resulting in 70–100% substrate degradation after 24 h. The digesting capacity of trypsin reached about 50%, but an increase in concentration of this enzyme did not substantially influence its overall activity. The effect of streptokinase-streptodornase, collagenase and plasmin-desoxyribonuclease was weak (10–20% digested).

Key words

Enzymatic debridement proteolytic enzymes Antarctic krill (Euphausia superbatrypsin streptokinase-streptodornase collagenase plasmin-desoxyribonuclease 

References

  1. 1.
    Hellgren, L., Mohr, V., and Vincent, J., 13th int. Congr. Biochem., Amsterdam 1985, p. 300.Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    Hellgren, L., Karlstam, B., and Vincent, J., Israel J. clin. Biochem. Lab. Sci.4 (1985) 100.Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    Hellgren, L., Mohr, V., and Vincent, J., Experientia42 (1986) 403.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    Osnes, K.K., Thesis, Norwegian Institute of Technology, Trondheim 1985.Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    Kunitz, M.J., Gen. Physiol.30 (1947) 291.Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    Rick, W., Methods of Enzymatic Analysis, vol. II, 2nd edn, p. 1013. Ed. H.U. Bergmeyer. Academic Press, New York 1974.Google Scholar
  7. 7.
    Lowry, O.H., Rosebrough, N.J., Farr, A.L., and Randall, R.J., J. biol. Chem.193 (1951) 265.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    Hellgren, L., Eur. J. clin. Pharmac.24 (1983) 623.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Birkhäuser Verlag Basel 1987

Authors and Affiliations

  • D. Campbell
    • 1
  • L. Hellgren
    • 2
  • B. Karlstam
    • 1
  • J. Vincent
    • 2
  1. 1.Pharmacia ABUppsalaSweden
  2. 2.Department of DermatologyUniversity of UmeåUmeåSweden

Personalised recommendations