Identification and characterization of topoisomerase II inhibitory peptides from soy protein hydrolysates

Potential Role of Bioactive Proteins and Peptides Derived from Legumes towards Metabolic Syndrome

Legumes have been widely consumed and used to isolate bioactive compounds, mainly proteins. The aim of this study was to review the beneficial actions of different legumes proteins and peptides updating the main findings that correlate legumes consumption and the effects on non-transmissible chronic diseases, specifically metabolic syndrome. An exhaustive revision of five relevant bioactivities (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, hypocholesterolemic -all of them linked to metabolic syndrome- and antitumoral) of proteins and peptides from legumes focused on isolation and purification, enzymatic hydrolysis and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion was carried out. The promising potential of bioactive hydrolysates and peptides from pulses has been demonstrated by in vitro tests. However, only a few studies validated these biological activities using animal models. No clinical trials have been carried out yet; so further research is required to elucidate their effective health implications.

Immunomodulatory peptides-A promising source for novel functional food production and drug discovery

Immunomodulatory peptides are a complex class of bioactive peptides that encompasses substances with different mechanisms of action. Immunomodulatory peptides could also be used in vaccines as adjuvants which would be extremely desirable, especially in response to pandemics. Thus, immunomodulatory peptides in food of plant origin could be regarded both as valuable suplements of novel functional food preparation and/or as precursors or possible active ingredients for drugs design for treatment variety of conditions arising from impaired function of immune system. Given variety of mechanisms, different tests are required to assess effects of immunomodulatory peptides. Some of those effects show good correlation with in vivo results but others, less so. Certain plant peptides, such as defensins, show both immunomodulatory and antimicrobial effect, which makes them interesting candidates for preparation of functional food and feed, as well as templates for design of synthetic peptides.

Research Development, Optimization and Modifications of Anti-cancer Peptides

Anti-cancer peptides play an important role in the area of cancer inhibition. A variety of anti- cancer peptides have emerged through the extraction and structural modification of peptides from biological tissues. This review provides the research background of anti-cancer peptides, the introduction of the mechanism of anti-cancer peptides for inhibition of cancers, the discovery and development along with optimization and modifications of these peptides in the clinical application. In conclusion, it can be said that anti-cancer peptides will play a major role in the future oncologic clinic.

Antiproliferative and Enzyme Docking Analysis of Engleromycin from Engleromyces goetzei

Engleromyces goetzei P. Henn. (E. goetzei) has been widely used as a traditional herb for many years in Kenya due to its diverse biological effects. Although engleromycin was first isolated from E. goetzei in 1980, its pharmacological activity is still unknown. In this study, engleromycin from E. goetzei was identified by spectroscopic analyses, and subsequently examined for its antiproliferative activity using human cancer cell lines of SGC-7901, HT-29, HeLa and A549. As a result, it was revealed that engleromycin strongly inhibited the growth of SGC-7901, HT-29, HeLa and A549 cells with IC₅₀ values at 26.77 ± 1.69 µM, 7.73 ± 0.18 µM, 7.00 ± 0.12 µM and 3.14 ± 0.03 µM, respectively. The results of topoisomerase II (Top II) inhibition assay in vitro implied that engleromycin might be a Top II inhibitor. Further insights into the potential mechanism of antiproliferative activity displayed that engleromycin could dock into the binding pockets of Top II, like the clinical inhibitor doxorubicin, and then inhibit the biological activity of Top II. Taken together, our findings suggest that engleromycin has an anticancer potential, and may serve as a leading compound for the development of antitumor agents.

Citrus flavonoids luteolin, apigenin, and quercetin inhibit glycogen synthase kinase-3β enzymatic activity by lowering the interaction energy within the binding cavity

Pancreatic cancer studies have shown that inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) leads to decreased cancer cell proliferation and survival by abrogating nuclear factor κB (NFκB) activity. In this investigation, various citrus compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and limonoids, were individually investigated for their inhibitory effects on GSK-3β by using a luminescence assay. Of the 22 citrus compounds tested, the flavonoids luteolin, apigenin, and quercetin had the highest inhibitory effects on GSK-3β, with 50% inhibitory values of 1.5, 1.9, and 2.0 μM, respectively. Molecular dockings were then performed to determine the potential interactions of each citrus flavonoid with GSK-3β. Luteolin, apigenin, and quercetin were predicted to fit within the binding pocket of GSK-3β with low interaction energies (-76.4, -76.1, and -84.6 kcal·mol(-1), respectively) and low complex energies (-718.1, -688.1, and -719.7 kcal·mol(-1), respectively). Our results indicate that several citrus flavonoids inhibit GSK-3β activity and suggest that these have potential to suppress the growth of pancreatic tumors.