Plant Peptides as Protease Inhibitors for Therapeutic and Agricultural Applications

Protease inhibitors from plants are proteinaceous molecules which form complex with proteases and inhibit their activity. Plants utilize these inhibitors to regulate different physiological processes as well as to protect themselves against insect pests or pathogens. Plant protease inhibitors have proven to be novel candidates for pest control and also used as drugs targeting proteases associated with diseases. In this book chapter we survey the different classes of protease inhibitory proteins and peptides from plant origin, with their agronomical and pharmaceutical applications, with emphasis on short peptides. We also review the various biological and synthetic approaches for production of peptides, and methods for improving activity and specificity. The overall objective of this book chapter is to enlighten the newly discovered classes of small peptides which can inhibit proteases and can act as a drug delivery vehicle.