Medicinal properties of laccase from Basidiomycetes mushroom: a review

Abstract

Laccases (EC: 1.10.3.2) are a group of multi-copper proteins. These are found in many plants, fungi, and microorganisms, belonging to the group of oxidases. Laccases catalyzes variety of phenolic compounds as well as diamines, and aromatic amines with concomitant reduction of molecular oxygen to water that is a mean act on phenols and similar molecules, performing a one-electron oxidations. It requires oxygen as a second substrate for the enzymatic action. Due to their ability to oxidize, both phenolic and non-phenolic lignin related compounds as well as highly recalcitrant environmental; these biocatalysts can be very useful for their application in several biotechnological processes. Therefore, laccases have been subject of intensive research in the last decades to use in the food as well as pharmaceutical industries. The mushrooms are rich sources of laccases. The main medicinal uses of laccase in Basidiomycetes reported so far, are as anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, hypocholesterolemic, anti-tumor, anti-cancer, immunomodulatory, anti-allergic, nephroprotective, and anti-microbial agents. This review helps to understand the medicinal properties of this important enzyme for efficient use in the pharmaceutical industry. This paper reviews the occurrence and location of laccase, mechanism of actions, mediators involved in the metabolic pathways, substrate specificity, properties, and their application in medicine.

Keywords: Laccase, Basidiomycetes, Oxidases, Copper proteins, Bio-active metabolites, Medicinal application