Cyclotides. Prospects for using violet oxytocin-like substances to create a new generation of pharmacological agents

This review article focuses on the use of violets and their derivatives as medicinal agents. Special attention is given to the historical aspects of using the healing properties of violets, as well as the analysis of substances derived from these plants for pharmaceutical production. The article specifically discusses oxytocin-like substances found in violets, particularly cyclotides. Cyclotides are globular microproteins with a unique head-to-tail cyclized backbone stabilized by three disulfide bonds forming a cystine knot. The chemical characteristics of cyclotides make them suitable for use as recombinant scaffolds in the design and development of ligands for G protein-coupled receptors, which are part of the modern generation of drugs. The development of ligands for bradykinin and κ-opioid receptors, which are in demand in modern pharmacology, is described in detail.