A Review on Therapeutic Potential of Protease Inhibitors from Medicinal Plants

Most of the currently available therapeutic agents, particularly for cardiovascular disorders and cancers are very expensive and induce some serious side effects. Some of these drugs have also become less effective due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. There is a necessity and great demand for the development of novel efficacious plant-based agents that are of pharmacologically effective. In this connection, this review focuses on therapeutic potential of plant protease inhibitors. Protease inhibitors are of a particular concern at present due to their potent ability to inhibit protease enzymes that are involved in pathogenesis of various human diseases. In addition to their function as protein-degrading enzymes, protease inhibitors are now well-known for their capability to involve in many biological activities as signaling molecules. Plant protease inhibitors are also engaged in several physiological and pathological processes, such as blood clotting, inflammation, immune regulation, apoptosis and carcinogenesis. Therefore, isolation of plant protease inhibitors and evaluation of their therapeutic capacity against chronic human diseases have become a major research interest. Nevertheless, protease inhibitor content and protease specificity vary significantly even in the same plant species depending on the geographical location and environmental factors. Consequently, it is important to identify potent therapeutic potential of each plant protease inhibitor on human health individually.