Issue 12, 2012

Mechanism of the protective action of taurine in toxin and drug induced organ pathophysiology and diabetic complications: a review

Abstract

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid), a conditionally essential amino acid, is found in large concentrations in all mammalian tissues and is particularly abundant in aquatic foods. Taurine exhibits membrane stabilizing, osmoregulatory and cytoprotective effects, antioxidative properties, regulates intracellular Ca2+ concentration, modulates ion movement and neurotransmitters, reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in various organs and controls blood pressure. Recently, emerging evidence from the literature shows the effectiveness of taurine as a protective agent against several environmental toxins and drug-induced multiple organ injuries as the outcome of hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, testicular toxicity and cardiotoxicity in several animal models. Besides, taurine is also effective in combating diabetes and its associated complications, including cardiomyopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy and atherosclerosis. These beneficial effects appear to be due to the multiple actions of taurine on cellular functions. This review summarizes the mechanism of the prophylactic role of taurine against several environmental toxins and drug-induced organ pathophysiology and diabetes.

Graphical abstract: Mechanism of the protective action of taurine in toxin and drug induced organ pathophysiology and diabetic complications: a review

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
15 Mar 2012
Accepted
04 Aug 2012
First published
29 Aug 2012

Food Funct., 2012,3, 1251-1264

Mechanism of the protective action of taurine in toxin and drug induced organ pathophysiology and diabetic complications: a review

J. Das, A. Roy and P. C. Sil, Food Funct., 2012, 3, 1251 DOI: 10.1039/C2FO30117B

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