Ursolic and Oleanolic Acids: Plant Metabolites with Neuroprotective 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 current studies on the distribution of ursolic and oleanolic acids in plants, bioavailability and pharmacokinetic properties of these triterpenoids and their derivatives, and to discuss their neuroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo.

Transcriptional Modulation of the Hippo Signaling Pathway by Drugs Used to Treat Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia

“…Likewise, antioxidant effects by inducing antioxidant defenses were demonstrated in Alzheimer's disease [73]. The possible beneficial effects of UA in neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions were recently reviewed [74,75].…”

Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. Fruits: Chromatographic Analysis of Seasonal and Geographical Variation in Bioactive Compounds

“…As far as we are aware, this is the first comprehensive report concerning the qualitative and quantitative simultaneous analysis of 34 phenolics and 13 triterpenoids in lingonberry fruits. Cyanidin-3-O-galactoside, which possess strong antioxidant activity [31]; (+)-catechin, procyanidins B1, B3, A1, which have been associated with urinary tract health [32]; benzoic acid, known for antimicrobial activity [33]; and ursolic acid with clinical interest due to its anticancer and neuromodulatory potential [34] were determined as major phytochemical markers of lingonberries (mean values exceeded 1000.0 µg/g DW). This is in good agreement with previous studies [35][36][37], wherein these predominant compounds were highlighted.…”

Novel Oleanolic Acid-Tryptamine and -Fluorotryptamine Amides: From Adaptogens to Agents Targeting In Vitro Cell Apoptosis

“…The most active compounds 3a–3c identified in this screening were evaluated for induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. They showed a strong induction of apoptosis in cervical carcinoma and malignant melanoma cells after 24 h. The compounds 3a–4c are novel compounds (as far as the literature data were consulted [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]) in which structural modifications resulted in modification of the biological effects of their parent components (adaptogens). Amides 3a–4c display cytotoxicity and antiproliferative activity, and cause cell apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) and human malignant melanoma (G-361) cancer cells.…”

“…Recently, several review papers have been published in pentacyclic triterpenoids and their structural modifications, including those resulting in the investigation of novel nitrogen-containing compounds [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. However, neither of those review articles [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], nor any of the recent research papers [ 33 , 34 , 35 ] have dealt with tryptamine or fluorotryptamine derivatives of oleanolic acid that are the topic of this article as newly designed compounds.…”