An overview of the use of proteolytic enzymes as exfoliating agents

Plant and Arthropod IgE-Binding Papain-like Cysteine Proteases: Multiple Contributions to Allergenicity

Papain-like cysteine proteases are widespread and can be detected in all domains of life. They share structural and enzymatic properties with the group's namesake member, papain. They show a broad range of protein substrates and are involved in several biological processes. These proteases are widely exploited for food, pharmaceutical, chemical and cosmetic biotechnological applications. However, some of them are known to cause allergic reactions. In this context, the objective of this review is to report an overview of some general properties of papain-like cysteine proteases and to highlight their contributions to allergy reactions observed in humans. For instance, the literature shows that their proteolytic activity can cause an increase in tissue permeability, which favours the crossing of allergens through the skin, intestinal and respiratory barriers. The observation that allergy to PLCPs is mostly detected for inhaled proteins is in line with the reports describing mite homologs, such as Der p 1 and Der f 1, as major allergens showing a frequent correlation between sensitisation and clinical allergic reactions. In contrast, the plant food homologs are often digested in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, they only rarely can cause allergic reactions in humans. Accordingly, they are reported mainly as a cause of occupational diseases.

Bromelain: a review of its mechanisms, pharmacological effects and potential applications

The utilization of plant-derived supplements for disease prevention and treatment has long been recognized because of their remarkable potential. Ananas comosus, commonly known as pineapple, produces a group of enzymes called bromelain, which contains sulfhydryl moieties. Recent studies have shown that bromelain exhibits a wide range of activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and anti-rheumatic properties. These properties make bromelain a promising drug candidate for the treatment of various diseases. The anti-inflammatory activity of bromelain has been shown to be useful in treating inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma, whereas the anti-cancer activity of bromelain is via induction of apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis, and enhancement of the body's immune response. The anti-diabetic property of bromelain is owing to the improvement in glucose metabolism and reduction in insulin resistance. The therapeutic potential of bromelain has been investigated in numerous preclinical and clinical studies and a number of patents have been granted to date. Various formulations and delivery systems are being developed in order to improve the efficacy and safety of this molecule, including the microencapsulated form to treat oral inflammatory conditions and liposomal formulations to treat cancer. The development of novel drug delivery systems and formulations has further ameliorated the therapeutic potential of bromelain by improving its bioavailability and stability, while reducing the side effects. This review intends to discuss various properties and therapeutic applications of bromelain, along with its possible mechanism of action in treating various diseases. Recent patents and clinical trials concerning bromelain have also been covered.

The Benefits of Water from Nitrodi's Spring: The In Vitro Studies Leading the Potential Clinical Applications

Natural products (water, plants, and minerals) have been studied for diverse applications in health and disease. Since there has been a growing interest in the introduction of thermal water as a clinical complementary approach in the treatment of low-grade inflammation and stress-related conditions, this review focuses on the oldest spa in the world: Nitrodi's spring. Substantial studies in the 1960s showed that both the internal and external use of Nitrodi's water yielded several benefits in physiological processes and in treating certain disorders, mainly allergic and autoimmune inflammatory conditions. More recently, a novel interest in Nitrodi's water has prompted researchers to further explore the effects of this water and shed light on the molecular mechanisms sustaining its therapeutic efficacy. In different epithelial cell models, Nitrodi's water had strong promotional effects on proliferation, cell migration, cell viability, and fibroblast to myofibroblast transition, all of which essential for wound healing and tissue remodeling. Moreover, Nitrodi's water exhibited anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties through the inhibition of ROS production and protein S-nitrosylation. Here, we have collected the clinical and basic data on Nitrodi's water and reviewed articles that have discussed its use as a potential treatment for several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and age-related skin deterioration.

Transglutaminase in Foods and Biotechnology

Stabilization and reusability of enzyme transglutaminase (TGM) are important goals for the enzymatic process since immobilizing TGM plays an important role in different technologies and industries. TGM can be used in many applications. In the food industry, it plays a role as a protein-modifying enzyme, while, in biotechnology and pharmaceutical applications, it is used in mediated bioconjugation due to its extraordinary crosslinking ability. TGMs (EC 2.3.2.13) are enzymes that catalyze the formation of a covalent bond between a free amino group of protein-bound or peptide-bound lysine, which acts as an acyl acceptor, and the γ-carboxamide group of protein-bound or peptide-bound glutamine, which acts as an acyl donor. This results in the modification of proteins through either intramolecular or intermolecular crosslinking, which improves the use of the respective proteins significantly.

Combined Nanofibrous Face Mask: Co-Formulation of Lipases and Antibiotic Agent by Electrospinning Technique

The application of enzyme-based therapies has received significant attention in modern drug development. Lipases are one of the most versatile enzymes that can be used as therapeutic agents in basic skin care and medical treatment related to excessive sebum production, acne, and inflammation. The traditional formulations available for skin treatment, such as creams, ointments or gels, are widely applied; however, their use is not always accompanied by good drug penetration properties, stability, or patient adherence. Nanoformulated drugs offer the possibility of combining enzymatic and small molecule formulations, making them a new and exciting alternative in this field. In this study polymeric nanofibrous matrices made of polyvinylpyrrolidone and polylactic acid were developed, entrapping lipases from Candida rugosa and Rizomucor miehei and antibiotic compound nadifloxacin. The effect of the type of polymers and lipases were investigated, and the nanofiber formation process was optimized to provide a promising alternative in topical treatment. Our experiments have shown that entrapment by electrospinning induced two orders of magnitude increase in the specific enzyme activity of lipases. Permeability investigations indicated that all lipase-loaded nanofibrous masks were capable of delivering nadifloxacin to the human epidermis, confirming the viability of electrospinning as a formulation method for topical skin medications.