Insight into the anti-cancer and anti-viral therapeutic properties of biological active molecule prodigiosin

Abstract

Bioactive compounds from natural sources play an important role as an immunomodulator in diseases such as cancer, inflammatory and viral diseases. Immunomodulator functions to regulate the immune system and defends against infectious foreign particles. Naturally occurring bioactive compounds have been shown to boost the immunity and increase the anti-cancer immune response, as well as in cancer patients. Prodigiosin is reported as an anticancer agent and effective against multiple tumor cell lines and also combat to viral diseases. Innate cytotoxicity is one of the main problems linked with the use of immunosuppressants, especially in oncology that leads scientists toward the application of combined regimens. In this perception, prodigiosin offers an interesting perspective of combinatorial applications. However, the major devastating limitation associated with its use is an infectious strain: Serratia marcescens source linked with a few harmful pathologies in mammals. The present article will review the potential roles of prodigiosin as a key player of immunomodulator in different immune cells such as T and B lymphocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells and natural killer cells as well as antiviral activity.