Emergence of membrane sphingolipids as a potential therapeutic target

Background: Though sphingolipids are ubiquitously present in eukaryotic cells, but until the last decade, they were merely considered as a structural component of the plasma membrane with limited function. However, over the last decade, numerous functions have been ascribed to sphingolipids after the seminal discoveries on the bioactivities of several sphingolipids. Scope of review: Sphingolipids are now well-recognized signals for fundamental cellular processes. Here we discussed about the advent of several sphingolipids components as potential therapeutic target for both human and plants. Major conclusions: Sphingolipid contents and/or sphingolipid-metabolizing enzyme expression/activity often get impaired during pathophysiological conditions, and hence manipulation of this signaling pathway may be beneficial in disease diagnosis, and the plasma concentrations can serve as an important prognostic and diagnostic marker for the disease. General significance: Sphingolipids are emerging as a goldmine for new therapeutic drug targets with promising new applications (cosmeceutical and nutraceutical), thereby opening new avenues for pharmaceuticals and nutraceutical industries.