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Table 2 Proposed applications of high-valued compounds derived from the aromatic pathway and synthesized by engineered E. coli strains

From: Engineering Escherichia coli to overproduce aromatic amino acids and derived compounds

Compound

Summary of pharmaceutical and industrial applications

References

Shikimate ((3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxycyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid)

Antipyretic, antioxidant, anticoagulant, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic agent. Has a key role in the synthesis of important pharmacological compounds such as anti-cancer and antibacterial agents, as well as hormones. Substrate in the chemical synthesis of the antiviral Tamiflu.

[72],[74]

Salvianic acid or danshensu (3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid)

A naturally occurring plant polyphenolic acid, considered as a superior antioxidant. Its scavenging activities against free hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anion radicals are higher than vitamin C. Has a variety of other pharmacological effects, including improving cerebral blood flow, inhibiting platelet activation and arterial thrombosis, as well as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects.

[94]

(2S)-pinocembrin (5,7-dihydroxyflavanone)

Flavonoid with demonstrated activity decreasing the neurological scores, alleviating brain edema, reducing the permeability of blood brain barrier and alleviating cerebral ischemic injury in the middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. Has been proposed as a novel therapeutic agent to reduce cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and blood brain injury, useful for its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects.

[98]

Caffeic acid (3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid)

Possesses various pharmacological activities including antioxidant, antitumoral, antiviral, antidepressive and antidiabetic functions.

[104]

Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene)

Potential therapeutic effects in humans as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and chemopreventive agent.

[99]

Violacein ((3E)-3-[5-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxo-1H-pyrrol-3-ylidene]-1H-indol-2-one) and deoxyviolacein

Activity against herpes simplex virus and pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Violacein has shown successful activity against leukemia, lung cancer, human uveal melanoma and lymphoma cells, where it mediates apoptosis. It is also an interesting bio-dye showing attractive color tone and stability.

[82]

PDC (2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid)

Proposed as a novel starting material for several useful synthetic polymers such as polyesters and polyamides.

[100]

(S)-reticuline ((1S)-1-[(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-6-methoxy-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-7-ol)

Building block for benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, including the analgesic compounds morphine and codeine, as well as the antibacterial agents berberine and palmatine. Useful in the development of novel antimalarial and anticancer drugs.

[97]

Hydroxytyrosol (3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol)

Powerful antioxidant activity. Potential antitumoral, antiatherogenic, anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet aggregation agent.

[106]

Avenanthramides

Natural hydroxycinnamoyl anthranilates with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative effects, considered to contribute to the health benefits of oatmeal consumption. Potential antitumor activities.

[87]

δ-tocotrienol

Vitamin E component naturally produced by photosynthetic organisms. It has shown to induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation of cancer cells. Possess to some extent neuroprotective, anticancer, and cholesterol lowering properties.

[95],[96]

  1. Recombinant pathways are presented in Figure 2 and Figure 3.