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Endocrine activity of plant-derived compounds: an evolutionary perspective
1Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0623.
Summary
Plant compounds interact with human hormone pathways through evolutionary links to microbial and plant enzymes. This explains some hormone-like effects, particularly through binding to steroid and prostaglandin dehydrogenases.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Evolutionary Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Plants possess known pharmacological effects on humans.
- Plant compounds can act by binding to hormone receptors or hormone-metabolizing enzymes.
- The evolutionary origins of plant-animal interactions in biological pathways are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary origins of interactions between plant-derived compounds and human biological pathways.
- To understand the mechanisms behind the hormone-like activity of plant compounds.
Main Methods:
- Sequence analyses of human hormone-metabolizing enzymes.
- Comparison of human enzymes with proteins from rhizobia and enzymes involved in plant compound synthesis.
- Structural comparison of plant compounds (flavonoids, licorice derivatives) with steroid hormones.
Main Results:
- Identified common ancestors between human steroid/prostaglandin dehydrogenases and proteins in rhizobia (involved in nodule formation) and plant enzymes (anthocyanin synthesis).
- Revealed evolutionary kinship between key human metabolic enzymes and plant-related proteins.
- Observed structural similarities between flavonoids, licorice compounds, and steroid hormones.
Conclusions:
- Some hormone-like activity of plant compounds in humans stems from their ability to bind to steroid and prostaglandin dehydrogenases.
- Evolutionary relationships provide insights into the mechanisms of plant-derived compound action.
- The findings offer a new perspective on the pharmacological effects of plant compounds.