HP-40: Large-scale chromatographic method to purify camel α-lactalbumin: A biotechnological approach in dietary therapy

Abstract

An increased interest is in the camel milk as functional food to prevent or manage many human diseases. Its biofunctional properties are attributed mainly to its contents in bioactives proteins where α-Lactalbumin is the major whey soluble protein in Camelus dromedarius milk possessing antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-obesity and anticancer effects. Therefore, there is a need to use the industrial applicability of biotechnology advances for the valorisation of this protein as natural pharmaceutical molecule. Objectives: Large-scale method based on anion exchange chromatography (AIEX) was performed to purify α-Lactalbumin from camel whey. Methods: The procedure was designed to selectively bind the other whey proteins onto the anion exchanger so that α-Lactalbumin could be collected in the run-through from the column. Purity of the eluted α-Lac was evaluated by SDS-PAGE. Results and discussion: The results of the purification are presented by the chromatogram that showed one peak. The results of electrophorese analysis of the collected fraction showed that the peak corresponded to α-Lac that was fully eluted in the run-through with some residual amount of CWBP. Conclusion: Thus, by AIEX chromatography a highly pure camel α-Lactalbumin was obtained providing its application in dietary therapy to prevent human diseases and achieve optimal health