Phytochemicals as a potential source for TNF-α inhibitors
2013
Iqbal, Muzamal | Verpoorte, R. | Korthout, Henrie A. A. J. | Mustafa, Natali Rianika
Cytokines play an important role in the immune system. Any disorder in the regulation of cytokines can lead to the development of inflammatory diseases. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is one of the most important inflammatory cytokines that controls different types of cell functions. The overproduction of TNF-α is linked with the development of various diseases such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, septic shock, diabetes and atherosclerosis. Plants are considered as excellent sources of pharmacologically active compounds. Currently, scientists are searching for natural products with anti-TNF-α properties for the treatment of various inflammatory disorders. At present, protein-based drugs are available for the inhibition of TNF-α, however these have some limitations. Plant might provide an alternative and cost-effective source of drugs that can regulate TNF-α levels. This review briefly highlights the physiological and pathological roles of TNF-α along with a description of plant-derived compounds capable of interfering with TNF-α activity and production.
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