丹参酮生物合成的关键酶研究进展

丹参酮是丹参中具有较强生物活性和广泛药理作用的一类脂溶性二萜醌类化合物,是目前国际上广泛认可的有效治疗心脑血管疾病的天然药物之一。天然的丹参酮通过复杂的生物合成途径生成,唇形科植物丹参是其主要来源,然而由于丹参资源有限、丹参酮量低等原因,使丹参酮的产量无法满足市场需求。对丹参酮生物合成过程中的关键酶进行调控可提高其量。对丹参酮的生物合成途径及其关键酶的研究进展进行综述。

Research progress on key enzymes involved in biosynthesis of tanshinone

Tanshinone, a group of diterpene quinones from Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix with strong physiological activities and broad pharmacological effects, is well known as an effective compound to cure cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Natural tanshinone is generated by complex biosynthetic pathway and Salvia miltiorrhiza is its main source. The increasing medical demand for tanshinone, however, can not be satisfied. The limited resource of S. miltiorrhiza and the low content of tanshinone may cause the poor yield of these compounds. This problem may be solved by regulating the key enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of tanshinone so as to elevate its content. This review summarized the research progress in the biosynthetic pathway of tanshinone and the key enzymes related to this process.