An insight into role of amino acids as antioxidants via NRF2 activation

• Published in: Amino acids 2024-03, Vol.56 (1), p.23-23, Article 23
• Main Authors: Egbujor, Melford C., Olaniyan, Olugbemi T., Emeruwa, Chigbundu N., Saha, Sarmistha, Saso, Luciano, Tucci, Paolo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino acids; Amino Acids - metabolism; Analytical Chemistry; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; Biochemical Engineering; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammation - drug therapy; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1 - chemistry; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1 - genetics; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1 - metabolism; Life Sciences; Lipids; Natural products; Neurobiology; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 - genetics; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 - metabolism; Oxidative Stress; Proteins; Proteomics; Review; Review Article; Signal transduction; Therapeutic applications
• ISSN: 1438-2199; 0939-4451; 1438-2199
• DOI: 10.1007/s00726-024-03384-8

Oxidative stress can affect the protein, lipids, and DNA of the cells and thus, play a crucial role in several pathophysiological conditions. It has already been established that oxidative stress has a close association with inflammation via nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) signaling pathway. Amino acids are notably the building block of proteins and constitute the major class of nitrogen-containing natural products of medicinal importance. They exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities, including the ability to activate NRF2, a transcription factor that regulates endogenous antioxidant responses. Moreover, amino acids may act as synergistic antioxidants as part of our dietary supplementations. This has aroused research interest in the NRF2-inducing activity of amino acids. Interestingly, amino acids' activation of NRF2-Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) signaling pathway exerts therapeutic effects in several diseases. Therefore, the present review will discuss the relationship between different amino acids and activation of NRF2–KEAP1 signaling pathway pinning their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We also discussed amino acids formulations and their applications as therapeutics. This will broaden the prospect of the therapeutic applications of amino acids in a myriad of inflammation and oxidative stress-related diseases. This will provide an insight for designing and developing new chemical entities as NRF2 activators.