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 (8.3Â kDa) | |
Peptides/Protein from medicinal fungi | ||
Cordyceps militaris | Lectin designated as CML (31Â kDa) | Haemagglutinating activity in mouse and rat erythrocytes |
Mitogenic activity on mouse splenocytes [43] | ||
Cordymin (10.9Â 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 (35.6Â 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 (28Â 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 (7.5Â 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 (55Â 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 (19.7Â kDa) | Inhibitory effect on cholesterol biosynthesis in Chinese hamster oocytes in vitro[78] |
Narcissus tazetta var. chinenesis | Narcissus tazetta lectin (26Â 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 (30Â 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 (13Â 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 (32Â 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] | ||
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] |
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