Ursolic and Oleanolic Acids: Plant Metabolites with Neuromodulatory Potential

Abstract

Ursolic and oleanolic acids are secondary plant metabolites that are known to be involved in the plant defence system against water loss and pathogens. Nowadays these triterpenoids are also regarded as potential pharmaceutical compounds and there is mounting experimental data that either purified compounds or triterpenoid-enriched plant extracts exert various beneficial effects, including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anticancer, on model systems of both human or animal origin. Some of those effects have been linked to the ability of ursolic and oleanolic acids to modulate intracellular antioxidant systems and also inflammation- and cell death-related pathways. Therefore, our aim was to review the current knowledge about the distribution of ursolic and oleanolic acids in plants, bioavailability and pharmacokinetic properties of these triterpenoids and their derivatives, and to discuss their neuromodulatory effects in vitro and in vivo.

Secondary and primary metabolites reveal putative resistance-associated biomarkers against Erysiphe necator in resistant grapevine genotypes

“…The fatty acid desaturase 7 (FAD7) and fatty acid desaturase 8 (FAD8) genes, which play a key role in the synthesis of fatty acids, have also been linked to protective mechanisms (Rojas et al, 2014;Cavaco et al, 2021). Last but not least, oleanolic acid is known to play a role in plants' defense mechanisms against pathogens and water loss (Gudoityte et al, 2021), whereas quercetin is a powerful antioxidant that effectively protects plants from a variety of biotic and abiotic challenges (Singh et al, 2021). Our findings confirm previous research about the importance of these compounds in disease resistance because of their different roles in plant defense.…”