Document Type : Biopharma Hypothesis

Abstract

Porphyria is a group of autosomal metabolic disorders which is characterized by genetic defects in heme biosynthesis pathway enzymes. The symptoms of the porphyria occur almost due to excess amount of heme precursors. Heme is a prosthetic group of hemoproteins including hemoglobin and essential enzymes such as peroxidase. It is illustrated that the heme molecule in horseradish peroxidase has a remarkable similarity to the one in human hemoglobin. In this hypothesis, we suggested that heme molecules extracted from horseradish peroxidase as a substitutional plant source, will be effective in heme deficiency disorders such as porphyria. So, heme derivatives could be regarded as a drug in order to regulate the excess heme production. It is also hypothesized that in order to maintain the heme molecules in an intact form and prevent from intestinal degradation, it could be conjugated with nanoparticles such as polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA).

Keywords

• Heme
• horseradish peroxidase
• nanomedicine
• porphyria