Polito Letizia, Bortolotti Massimo, Maiello Stefania, Battelli Maria Giulia, Bolognesi Andrea
Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine-DIMES, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 14, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
Molecules. 2016 Nov 18;21(11):1560. doi: 10.3390/molecules21111560.
Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are enzymes that deadenylate nucleic acids and are broadly distributed in the plant kingdom. Many plants that contain RIPs are listed in the pharmacopoeias of folk medicine all over the world, mostly because of their toxicity. This review analyses the position occupied in traditional medicine by plants from which RIPs have been isolated. The overview starts from the antique age of the Mediterranean area with ancient Egypt, followed by the Greek and Roman classic period. Then, the ancient oriental civilizations of China and India are evaluated. More recently, Unani medicine and European folk medicine are examined. Finally, the African and American folk medicines are taken into consideration. In conclusion, a list of RIP-expressing plants, which have been used in folk medicine, is provided with the geographical distribution and the prescriptions that are recommended by traditional healers. Some final considerations are provided on the present utilization of such herbal treatments, both in developing and developed countries, often in the absence of scientific validation. The most promising prospect for the medicinal use of RIP-expressing plants is the conjugation of purified RIPs to antibodies that recognise tumour antigens for cancer therapy.
核糖体失活蛋白（RIPs）是一类能够使核酸去腺苷酸化的酶，广泛分布于植物界。许多含有RIPs的植物被列入世界各地的民间医药药典中，主要是因为它们的毒性。本综述分析了已从中分离出RIPs的植物在传统医学中所占的地位。概述始于地中海地区的古代，包括古埃及，随后是希腊和罗马古典时期。然后，对中国和印度的古代东方文明进行了评估。最近，考察了尤纳尼医学和欧洲民间医学。最后，考虑了非洲和美洲的民间医学。总之，提供了一份在民间医学中使用的表达RIPs的植物清单，以及它们的地理分布和传统治疗师推荐的处方。对于这类草药治疗目前在发展中国家和发达国家的使用情况，在缺乏科学验证的情况下给出了一些最终思考。表达RIPs的植物在医学上最有前景的应用前景是将纯化的RIPs与识别肿瘤抗原的抗体结合用于癌症治疗。
