Phytoglycoproteins and Human Health: Current Knowledge and Future Applications

Over the years, humans have relied on plants as sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds that promote health wellness. Interestingly, drug discovery has benefitted immensely from use phytochemicals derived food medicinal plants. Phytoglycoproteins (PGPs) are plant-derived proteins with sugar moieties covalently linked to amino acid side chains, formed by glycosylation during posttranslational modification polypeptides. Several studies in last two decades, including cell culture animal studies, documented a variety health-beneficial effects PGPs, hypolipidemic, wound healing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anticancer properties. Despite prospects, there is dearth information pharmacokinetics toxicity possible induction immune reactions, potential stereospecific variation PGPs isomers their physiological functions. Further exploration multifunctional glycoproteins will position them strong candidates for development nutraceuticals functional foods.