Triterpenoid Metabolite Bioactivity in Medicinal Plants
Summary
Triterpenoid metabolites represent a large and structurally diverse class of plant secondary compounds, synthesised via squalene cyclisation and distinguished by core scaffolds such as oleanane, ursane and lupane. Ubiquitous in roots, barks and fruits of medicinal species, these compounds serve both ecological functions in plant defence and as molecular scaffolds for pharmacological activity. Biologically, triterpenoids exert anti‐inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer and antifibrotic effects through modulation of signalling pathways (for example NF-κB and MAPK), inhibition of key enzymes, and free‐radical scavenging. Classic examples include ursolic acid’s anti‐tumour properties, oleanolic acid’s hepatoprotective action and assorted glycosides’ antiviral potential. Advances in analytical chemistry and metabolic engineering have enabled deeper insight into distribution patterns, bioavailability and mechanism of action. The global significance of triterpenoid research spans natural‐product drug discovery, nutraceutical development and the search for alternatives to synthetic antimicrobials, highlighting the translational value of these metabolites in addressing chronic disease and drug resistance.
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Triterpenoid Metabolite Bioactivity in Medicinal Plants publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in triterpenoid metabolite bioactivity in medicinal plants across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Triterpenoid: Secondary metabolites derived from the cyclisation of squalene, composed of six isoprene units, widely found in medicinal plants.
IC50: Concentration of a compound that inhibits a given biological activity by 50% under specified conditions.
EC50: Concentration of a compound that produces 50% of its maximum biological effect in a defined assay.
References
- Triterpenoids from the Roots of Rhaphiolepis indica var. tashiroi and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activity. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2013).
- Anti-Pulmonary Fibrosis Activities of Triterpenoids from Oenothera biennis. Molecules (2022).
- New Terpenoids from Potentilla freyniana Bornm. and Their Cytotoxic Activities. Molecules (2022).
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