NOVEL BIOACTIVE PROTEIN ISOLATED FROM CHINESE YAM AND USES THEREOF

摘要

A protein isolated from the Chinese yam Dioscorea opposita that stimulates estrogen and progesterone release in vitro and in vivo but does not stimulate the proliferation of breast and ovarian cancer cells is disclosed. The protein exhibits anti-osteoporotic activity in vivo. Also provided are the procedure for isolation and purification of the protein and the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the protein.

主权项

1. A method for increasing level of estradiol, estrogen, and/or progesterone in a female subject, comprising:
administering, to a female subject with an estrogen level lower than that of a normal female population with normal reproductive function, an effective amount of a composition comprising a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
a) an isolated or substantially pure polypeptide obtainable from Dioscorea sp., wherein the first twenty-one consecutive amino acids at the N-terminal of the polypeptide consists of SEQ ID NO: 1;b) a fragment of said polypeptide, wherein said fragment exhibits estrogen-increasing activity; andc) a variant having at least 85% sequence identity with said polypeptide, wherein said variant exhibits estrogen-increasing activity.