Wael N. Hozzein*, Mohamed Mohany, Sana M.M. Alhawsawi, Mohamed Y. Zaky, Salim S. Al-Rejaie and Dalal H.M. Alkhalifah Pages 505 - 512 ( 8 )
Flavonoids represent a large diverse group of natural products that are used as a traditional medicine against various infectious diseases. They possess many biological activities including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-diabetic activities. Commercially, flavonoids are mainly obtained from plants, however, several challenges are faced during their extraction. Microorganisms have been known as natural sources of a wide range of bioactive compounds including flavonoids. Actinobacteria are the most prolific group of microorganisms for the production of bioactive secondary metabolites, thus facilitating the production of flavonoids. The screening programs for bioactive compounds revealed the potential application of actinobacteria to produce flavonoids with interesting biological activities, especially anticancer activities. Since marine actinobacteria are recognized as a potential source of novel anticancer agents, they are highly expected to be potential producers of anticancer flavonoids with unusual structures and properties. In this review, we highlight the production of flavonoids by actinobacteria through classical fermentation, engineering of plant biosynthetic genes in a recombinant actinobacterium and the de novo biosynthesis approach. Through these approaches, we can control and improve the production of interesting flavonoids or their derivatives for the treatment of cancer.
Flavonoids, marine actinobacteria, biological activities, anticancer drugs, polyphenols, bioactive compounds, secondary metabolites.
Bioproducts Research Chair, Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Bioproducts Research Chair, Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Molecular Physiology Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Biology Department, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh