Autor(es): Paula, Paulo C. ; Oliveira, José Tadeu Abreu de ; Sousa, Daniele de Oliveira Bezerra de ; Alves, Bella Giselly Torres ; Carvalho, Ana Fontenele Urano ; Franco, Octávio L. ; Vasconcelos, Ilka M.
Data: 2021
Origem: Oasisbr
Assunto(s): Insulin-like plant protein; Hypoglycemic protein; Prospection; Diabetes therapy; Moringa
Various plant species have long been used in traditional medicine worldwide to treat diabetes. Among the plant-based compounds with hypoglycemic properties, studies on insulin-like proteins isolated from leaves, fruits and seeds are rarely reported in the relevant literature. Our research group has been investigating the presence of insulin-like proteins in Moringa oleifera, a plant species native to India, and we have obtained a leaf protein isolate and semi-purified derived fractions, as well as a seed coat protein fraction (Mo-SC), with hypoglycemic activity in chemically induced diabetic mice that have increased tolerance to orally administered glucose. Equally importantly, Mo-SC possesses insulin-like antigenic epitopes. In this context, the present review aims to highlight that prospection of insulin-like proteins in plants is of the utmost importance both for finding new drugs for the treatment of diabetes and for shedding light on the mechanisms involved in diabetes.
