Review on Plant Protease Inhibitors as Therapeutic Molecules

By : Sangeeta A. Godbole, Sopan N. Kharat

Page No: 277-288

Abstract
Plants contain several phytochemical compounds with capacity to exert therapeutic effects on human beings. One such group of molecules are the Protease inhibitors (PIs) which exert inhibitory activity towards several classes of mammalian, bovine, insect or microbial proteinases/proteases. PIs are polypeptides or proteins capable of forming reversible stoichiometric protein–protein complexes with specific proteolytic enzymes. This inhibits the catalytic function of proteolytic enzymes. Study of PIs is important to control proteolysis as it is the key to control the onset of several disease associated phenomena. Although initially, PIs were considered only as protein degrading enzymes, recent studies point them to be signalling molecules in biological activities.

In this article, various classes of plant protease inhibitors and their general mode of actions are discussed. The families belonging to the serine protease class of inhibitors (Serpins) are discussed in detail as these constitute an important class of therapeutically important molecules.

Data available on the use of PIs for treating a wide range of human diseases and disorders including the still incurable cancers is reviewed. Literature review confirms wide and successful use of Proteasome inhibitors (with similar activities to PIs) in treatment of haematological malignancies. Synthetic proteasome inhibitors are employed to inhibit the proteasome cascades and thus control disease onset and proliferation. Sharing the similar biological activities with the proteasome inhibitors, gives potential for the plant-based PIs to be experimented for similar uses. An attempt is made to report PIs from several plant species and their ongoing clinical trials to study their therapeutic actions.

Authors :
Sangeeta A. Godbole : Associate Professor, Head Department of Botany, Jai Hind College, Churchgate, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Sopan N. Kharat : Assistant Professor, Head Department of Botany, SSR College of ACS, Silvassa, UT of DNH and DD, India.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPSR.2022.38.01.30