An inhibitor of protein synthesis initiation from Alhagi kirgisorum S.

Polyproanthocyanidin - a plant phenolic compound from Alhagi kirgisorum S. effectively inhibited protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocyte and wheat germ cell-free systems. Poly-proanthocyanidin inhibited translation only at the level of initiation and not at the clongation level and aminoacylation of tRNA. The inhibitory effect of the phenolic compound is due to the blockage of the ternary complex formation of cIF-2 with GTP and initiator Met-tRNA.