title: Nattokinase: An Oral Antithrombotic Agent for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.
abstract: Natto, a fermented soybean product, has been consumed as a traditional food in Japan for thousands of years. Nattokinase (NK), a potent blood-clot dissolving protein used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, is produced by the bacteriumBacillus subtilisduring the fermentation of soybeans to produce Natto. NK has been extensively studied in Japan, Korea, and China. Recently, the fibrinolytic (anti-clotting) capacity of NK has been recognized by Western medicine. The National Science Foundation in the United States has investigated and evaluated the safety of NK. NK is currently undergoing a clinical trial study (Phase II) in the USA for atherothrombotic prevention. Multiple NK genes have been cloned, characterized, and produced in various expression system studies. Recombinant technology represents a promising approach for the production of NK with high purity for its use in antithrombotic applications. This review covers the history, benefit, safety, and production of NK. Opportunities for utilizing plant systems for the large-scale production of NK, or for the production of edible plants that can be used to provide oral delivery of NK without extraction and purification are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266005, China. wengyunqi@126.com.
authors.forename: Yunqi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266005, China. yaojian2002@126.com.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Northeastern State University at Broken Arrow, Broken Arrow, OK 74014, USA. sparks07@nsuok.edu.
authors.forename: Sawyer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sparks
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Northeastern State University at Broken Arrow, Broken Arrow, OK 74014, USA. wang03@nsuok.edu.
authors.forename: Kevin Yueju
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D011292:Premedication; D059748:Proteolysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013381:Subtilisins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013381:Subtilisins; C053771:nattokinase
keywords: antithrombotic agent; cardiovascular disease; gene expression; nattokinase; oral; plant molecular farming