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Table 1 Bioactive proteins isolated from Chinese medicine and their reported pharmacological effects

From: Bioactive proteins and peptides isolated from Chinese medicines with pharmaceutical potential

CM

Pharmacologically active proteins or peptides

Pharmacological effects

Peptides/protein from medicinal animals

Hirudo spp. (Leeches)

Hirudin

Anti-coagulation activity through inhibition of thrombin activity [13, 14]

Anti-proliferative activity toward human ovarian and tongues squamous cancer cells [24–27]

Eisenia fetida (Earthworm)

Earthworm fibrinolytic enzyme

Anti-cancer activity against hepatoma in vitro and in vivo[33]

Mesobuthus martensii (Chinese scorpion)

Anti-epilepsy protein (8.3 kDa)

Anti-epilepsy activity in mice in vivo[36, 37]

Peptides/Protein from medicinal fungi

Cordyceps militaris

Lectin designated as CML (31 kDa)

Haemagglutinating activity in mouse and rat erythrocytes

Mitogenic activity on mouse splenocytes [43]

Cordymin (10.9 kDa)

Anti-fungal activity through inhibition of mycelial growth in vitro[44]

Inhibitory effect on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase in vitro[42]

Anti-cancer activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro[42]

 

Protease designated CMP (12 kDa)

Anti-fungal activity in vitro[44]

Anti-cancer activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells and bladder cancer 5637 cells in vitro[44]

Ganoderma spp. (Ling Zhi)

Ling Zhi-8 (12.4 kDa protein)

Immuno-modulatory activity through inducing maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells and stimulating IL2 and IFN-γ secretion from CD4+ and CD8+ T cells [52], [53]

Anti-cancer activity against lung carcinoma cell growth in vitro and in vivo[55, 56]

Lectin (a 18-kDa protein)

Haemagglutinating activity and mitogenic activity towards BALB/c mouse splenocytes [49]

Anti-cancer activity against leukemia (L1210 and M1) cells and hepatoma (HepG2) cells [54]

Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf

P. cocos immunomodulatory protein (35.6 kDa) (PCP)

Immunomodulatory activity through activating mouse peritoneal macrophages (RAW 264.7) [60]

Peptides/proteins from medicinal herbs

Viola tricolor

Cyclotides

Anti-cancer activity against human cancer cells U251, MDA-MB-231, A549, DU145 and BEL-7402 in vitro[63]

Momordica cochinchinensis seeds (Mubiezhi)

Cochinin B (28 kDa ribosome inactivating protein)

Anti-cancer activity against human cervical epithelial carcinoma (HeLa), human embryonic kidney (HEK293) and human small cell lung cancer (NCI-H187) cell lines in vitro[69]

MCoCC-1 (a 33 amino acid long peptide)

Anti-cancer activity against human melanoma cell line (MM96L) in vitro[67, 71]

Chymotrypsin inhibitor designated as MCoCI (7.5 kDa)

Anti-oxidative activity through activation of glutathione-S-transferase and superoxide dismutase in vitro[71]

Immunomodulatory activity through stimulating the proliferation of mouse splenocytes, splenic lymphocytes, bone marrow cells and macrophages in vitro[67]

Viscum album (Chinese mistletoe)

Lectin designated as CM-1 (55 kDa)

Anti-cancer activity against CLY colon cancer cells and HT-29 colorectal cancer cells in vivo and in vitro through down-regulation of micro-RNA miR-135a & b expression [73]

 

Lectin designated as ACML-55

Immunomodulatory activity through enhancing both antigen specific activation and proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells as well as number of tumor antigen specific CD8+ T cells [74]

The seeds of Senna obtusifolia

Novel protein (19.7 kDa)

Inhibitory effect on cholesterol biosynthesis in Chinese hamster oocytes in vitro[78]

Narcissus tazetta var. chinenesis

Narcissus tazetta lectin (26 kDa)

Antiviral activity against human syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A and influenza B viruses [80]

Immunopotentiating activity through inducing gene expression of IL-1βand TNF-α in splenocytes and macrophages in vivo[81]

Smilax glabra rhizomes (Tufuling)

Smilaxin (30 kDa)

Immuno-stimulating activity in vitro[83]

Anti-cancer activity against MBL2 and PU5 cells in vitro[83]

Inhibitory effect on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase in vitro[83]

Ginkgo biloba seeds (Yinxing)

Ginkbilobin (13 kDa)

Anti-fungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, Mycosphaerella arachidicola, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Coprinus comatus[85]

Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli[85]

Inhibitory effect on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase [85]

Immuno-modulatory activity through inhibiting proliferation of murine splenocytes [85]

Dioscorea batata

Dioscorin (32 kDa)

Carbonic anhydrase activities [90]

Trypsin inhibitory activities [90]

Potential airway protective effects on A549 human airway epithelium cells [91]

Anti-oxidant properties reflected from DPPH and hydroxyl radicals scavenging effects [93]

Immuno-modulatory activity in vitro and in vivo[94, 95]

Trichosanthes kirilowii

Trichosanthin (247 amino acid long peptide)

Anti-HIV activity through inhibition of serum HIV-1 p24 antigen levels and increase CD4+ T cell count in HIV-1 infected patients [108, 109]

  

Antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus [110, 111]