Research Progress on Douchi Fibrinolytic Enzyme.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Enzymology
• Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

• Thrombotic diseases present a growing health concern with limitations in current treatments.
• Existing thrombolytic drugs are costly, have short efficacy, and increase bleeding risk.
• There is a critical need for novel, safer, and more economical therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the isolation, characterization, and thrombolytic potential of Douchi fibrinolytic enzyme (DFE).
• To explore DFE as a promising therapeutic agent for thrombotic diseases.
• To highlight the advantages of DFE over conventional thrombolytic drugs.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on DFE activity determination methods.
• Summary of bacterial strains, fermentation optimization, and genetic engineering for DFE production.
• Discussion of DFE isolation, purification, physicochemical properties, and thrombolytic efficacy (in vitro and in vivo).

Main Results:

• DFE, a serine protease from fermented Douchi, effectively dissolves fibrous proteins.
• DFE is non-toxic, does not cause bleeding, and possesses a low molecular weight for oral absorption.
• Demonstrated in vitro and in vivo thrombolytic effects of DFE.

Conclusions:

• DFE extracted from traditional fermented Douchi exhibits significant potential as a therapeutic agent.
• DFE offers a safer, more effective, and cost-efficient alternative for treating thrombotic diseases.
• Further development of DFE holds promise for improved management of thrombosis.