Maslinic Acid, a Natural Phytoalexin-Type Triterpene from Olives — A Promising Nutraceutical?
Maslinic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene found in a variety of natural sources, ranging from herbal remedies used in traditional Asian medicine to edible vegetables and fruits present in the Mediterranean diet. In recent years, several studies have proved that maslinic acid exerts a wide range of b...
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doaj-086e8b8266aa433180af0ea700d572c32020-11-24T22:44:12ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492014-08-01198115381155910.3390/molecules190811538molecules190811538Maslinic Acid, a Natural Phytoalexin-Type Triterpene from Olives — A Promising Nutraceutical?Glòria Lozano-Mena0Marta Sánchez-González1M. Emília Juan2Joana M. Planas3Departament de Fisiologia and Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA-UB), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, SpainDepartament de Fisiologia and Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA-UB), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, SpainDepartament de Fisiologia and Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA-UB), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, SpainDepartament de Fisiologia and Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA-UB), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, SpainMaslinic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene found in a variety of natural sources, ranging from herbal remedies used in traditional Asian medicine to edible vegetables and fruits present in the Mediterranean diet. In recent years, several studies have proved that maslinic acid exerts a wide range of biological activities, i.e. antitumor, antidiabetic, antioxidant, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antiparasitic and growth-stimulating. Experimental models used for the assessment of maslinic acid effects include established cell lines, which have been often used to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action, and also animal models of different disorders, which have confirmed the effects of the triterpene in vivo. Overall, and supported by the lack of adverse effects in mice, the results provide evidence of the potential of maslinic acid as a nutraceutical, not only for health promotion, but also as a therapeutic adjuvant in the treatment of several disorders.http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/19/8/11538maslinic acidphytochemicalphytoalexinpentacyclic triterpenebiological effectsantitumorantidiabeticantioxidantnutraceutical |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Glòria Lozano-Mena Marta Sánchez-González M. Emília Juan Joana M. Planas |
spellingShingle |
Glòria Lozano-Mena Marta Sánchez-González M. Emília Juan Joana M. Planas Maslinic Acid, a Natural Phytoalexin-Type Triterpene from Olives — A Promising Nutraceutical? Molecules maslinic acid phytochemical phytoalexin pentacyclic triterpene biological effects antitumor antidiabetic antioxidant nutraceutical |
author_facet |
Glòria Lozano-Mena Marta Sánchez-González M. Emília Juan Joana M. Planas |
author_sort |
Glòria Lozano-Mena |
title |
Maslinic Acid, a Natural Phytoalexin-Type Triterpene from Olives — A Promising Nutraceutical? |
title_short |
Maslinic Acid, a Natural Phytoalexin-Type Triterpene from Olives — A Promising Nutraceutical? |
title_full |
Maslinic Acid, a Natural Phytoalexin-Type Triterpene from Olives — A Promising Nutraceutical? |
title_fullStr |
Maslinic Acid, a Natural Phytoalexin-Type Triterpene from Olives — A Promising Nutraceutical? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Maslinic Acid, a Natural Phytoalexin-Type Triterpene from Olives — A Promising Nutraceutical? |
title_sort |
maslinic acid, a natural phytoalexin-type triterpene from olives — a promising nutraceutical? |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Molecules |
issn |
1420-3049 |
publishDate |
2014-08-01 |
description |
Maslinic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene found in a variety of natural sources, ranging from herbal remedies used in traditional Asian medicine to edible vegetables and fruits present in the Mediterranean diet. In recent years, several studies have proved that maslinic acid exerts a wide range of biological activities, i.e. antitumor, antidiabetic, antioxidant, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antiparasitic and growth-stimulating. Experimental models used for the assessment of maslinic acid effects include established cell lines, which have been often used to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action, and also animal models of different disorders, which have confirmed the effects of the triterpene in vivo. Overall, and supported by the lack of adverse effects in mice, the results provide evidence of the potential of maslinic acid as a nutraceutical, not only for health promotion, but also as a therapeutic adjuvant in the treatment of several disorders. |
topic |
maslinic acid phytochemical phytoalexin pentacyclic triterpene biological effects antitumor antidiabetic antioxidant nutraceutical |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/19/8/11538 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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