Exploring Important Herbs, Shrubs, and Trees for Their Traditional Knowledge, Chemical Derivatives, and Potential Benefits
Azamal Husen in Herbs, Shrubs, and Trees of Potential Medicinal Benefits, 2022
Terpenes are one of the largest classes of compounds (representing approximately one-third of natural compounds) next to phenolic compounds and also known as terpenoids or isoprenoids. The basic structure of terpenes is called an “isoprene unit” (Figure 1.14) and is derived from five carbon atoms (C5). The largest derivative structures of terpenes are terpenoids, carotenoids, and steroids (Christianson, 2017). The steroids are a class of compounds derived from tetracyclic triterpenes and phenanthrene. The other derived compounds from terpenes are carotenoids, red or yellow pigments found in many plants, like carrot, tomato, flowers, etc. These bioactive compounds are generally insoluble in water and are toxic to many plants, insects, and animals. As a result, these compounds appear to have a crucial defensive role in the plant kingdom. The primary classifications of terpenes are shown in Figure 1.14.Basic classes of terpenes and their best examples.
Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Safety Issues of Essential Oils: Applications in Aromatherapy
Megh R. Goyal, Hafiz Ansar Rasul Suleria, Ademola Olabode Ayeleso, T. Jesse Joel, Sujogya Kumar Panda in The Therapeutic Properties of Medicinal Plants, 2019
EOs are mainly of complex mixtures of volatile, odorous chemical compounds. EOs are also called volatile oils, because they evaporate at room temperature in contrast to fixed oils. Molecular weight of the EOs is generally below 300 Daltons. They are usually hydrophobic [70]. In fresh form, they are colorless liquid, but chamomile oil is violet in color. Very few EOs are found in a crystalline or nebulous form. EOs readily disseminate in ether, alcohol, and other organic solvents. They are also slightly soluble in water. In most of the cases, the density of essential oil is less than water, though clove or cinnamon oils are heavier than water. Due to its high refractive index, most of the EOs can rotate the plane of polarized light. There are two chemical groups of plant-based EOs, namely: Terpenoids; andPhenylpropanoids.
Medicinal Plants: A Potent Antimicrobial Source and An Alternative to Combat Antibiotic Resistance
Jayanta Kumar Patra, Gitishree Das, Sanjeet Kumar, Hrudayanath Thatoi in Ethnopharmacology and Biodiversity of Medicinal Plants, 2019
Another name of terpenoid is isoprenoids. It is the most abundant and diverse plant product. The major portion of essential oils contains terpenoids (Mbaveng, Hamm and Kuete, 2014). Terpenoids are active against many microorganisms. They are reported to have an extensive range of pharmacological properties. Terpenoids perform a variety of functions in growth and function of plants, but majorly they provide protection to the plant in an adverse environment. Terpenoids obtained from plants are being used in food, medicine and in many chemical industries (Tholl, 2015). For humans, they play a major role for health and immune function. Few studies have reported that in human they prevent the formation and growth of ulcer (De Pasquale, Germano, Keita, Sanogo, and Iauk, 1995). Their antioxidant properties are responsible for providing health benefits. Formulation of terpenoids has been reported to be very effective against bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Table 12.4 summarizes information regarding different type of terpenoids in medicinal practice (Wang, Tang and Bidigare, 2005).
Design, synthesis, and anticancer evaluation of novel quinoline derivatives of ursolic acid with hydrazide, oxadiazole, and thiadiazole moieties as potent MEK inhibitors
Published in Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry, 2019
Xiao-Yan Jin, Hao Chen, Dong-Dong Li, A-Liang Li, Wen-Yan Wang, Wen Gu
Terpenoids represent a large class of natural products consisting of approximately 25,000 chemical structures, which are widely applied in the fragrance and flavour industries. Furthermore, terpenoids exhibit extensive potential as pharmaceutical products treating different diseases20. In vitro, in vivo, and clinical trial studies have demonstrated the therapeutic role of terpenoids against various kinds of cancers21. Ursolic acid (UA, 1) is an ursane-type pentacyclic triterpenoid widely distributed in many plants. As a bioactive constituent in many traditional Chinese medicines, UA and its derivatives possess a variety of biological activities including antimicrobial, anticancer, antiviral, antioxidant, antiulcer, antidiabetic, antiarrhythmic, anti-hypercholesterolemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-neurodegenerative activities22–26. To improve the therapeutic efficacy and bioavailability of UA, a large number of UA derivatives have been synthesised based on different strategies.
Biological activity of terpene compounds produced by biotechnological methods
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2016
Roman Paduch, Mariusz Trytek, Sylwia K. Król, Joanna Kud, Maciej Frant, Martyna Kandefer-Szerszeń, Jan Fiedurek
Since many interesting natural molecules are present only in very small amounts in plant oils, there is justifiable interest in their selective synthesis or production by transformation of other chemicals. Classic chemical synthesis, however, is either not effective in producing terpenes or has many adverse effects on product purity and the environment. Moreover, for numerous valuable terpenoids with an oncotherapeutic potential, especially those which are enantiomerically pure and volatile, no chemical methods of synthesis have been developed so far. Potentially, some desirable unique terpenoids can be selectively produced by enzymatic or microbial transformation of abundant and low-priced terpenes, such as (R)-(+)-limonene and (−)-α-pinene (Bicas et al. 2009; Schewe et al. 2009; Trytek et al. 2009; Fiedurek et al. 2012). The antimicrobial activity of some of those compounds has been extensively studied but their action on human normal and tumour cells is still poorly understood.
SUMO-specific protease 1 inhibitors–A literature and patent overview
Published in Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents, 2022
Hang Li, Leyuan Chen, Yiliang Li, Wenbin Hou
Terpenoids have been extensively studied for their biological roles. Triptolide (30) (Table 3) is a compound isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii, which has a variety of biological functions, such as anti-tumor, immunosuppression and anti-inflammatory [75–77]. Huang et al. [78] found a new mechanism for the antitumor effect of triptolide. In vitro studies have found that low concentrations of triptolide can significantly inhibit the proliferation of prostate cancer cells and induce their apoptosis. The results of transplanted tumors in mice showed that triptolide could significantly reduce the tumor volume. To further explore the anti-tumor mechanism of triptolide, it was found that it can induce the decrease of SENP1 mRNA level, and reduce the SENP1 protein expression level in cells in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner. Overall, some of the above natural products have demonstrated inhibition of SENP1 at the animal or cellular level, and indeed have no IC50 values and no other mechanism. With the further study of SENP1, more pharmacological parameters of these compounds may be detected.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Diterpene
- Functional Group
- Ginger
- Isoprene
- Organic Compound
- Terpene
- Natural Product
- Pharmacology