oleanane and ursane

Oleanane and ursane pentacyclic triterpenoids are secondary metabolites of plants found in various climatic zones and regions. This group of compounds is highly attractive due to their diverse biological properties and possible use as intermediates in the synthesis of new pharmacologically promising substances. By now, their antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antitumor, and other activities have been confirmed. In the last decade, methods of microbial synthesis of these compounds and their further biotransformation using microorganisms are gaining much popularity. The present review provides clear evidence that industrial microbiology can be a promising way to obtain valuable pharmacologically active compounds in environmentally friendly conditions without processing huge amounts of plant biomass and using hazardous and expensive chemicals. This review summarizes data on distribution, microbial synthesis, and biological activities of native oleanane and ursane triterpenoids. Much emphasis is put on the processes of microbial transformation of selected oleanane and ursane pentacyclic triterpenoids and on the bioactivity assessment of the obtained derivatives.

Topics: Biosynthetic Pathways; Biotransformation; Fungi; Molecular Structure; Oleanolic Acid; Plants; Triterpenes

Natural pentacyclic triterpenoids (PTs) have been often reported to exhibit a wide range of biological activities. Among them, the anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities are the most studied. Over the last two decades, the number of publications reporting the anticancer effects of PTs has risen exponentially, reflecting the increasing interest in these natural products for the development of new antineoplastic drugs. Among of the most investigated PTs regarding their anticancer properties are oleanane-, ursane and friedelane-types, including oleanolic, glycyrrhetinic, ursolic and asiatic acids, and celastrol, among others. The extensive research in this field shows that the anticancer effects of PTs are mediated by several mechanisms, as they modulate a diverse range of molecular targets and signaling pathways, involved in cancer cell proliferation and survival. Considering the anticancer potential of this class of compounds, a number of semisynthetic derivatives has been synthetized aiming to improve their therapeutic activity and pharmacokinetic properties, and decrease their toxicity. Some of these new semisynthetic derivatives have shown improved anticancer activity in various cancer cell lines and animal models compared with the parent compound. Moreover, some of these compounds have been assessed in clinical trials, proving to be safe for human use. This review updates the most recent findings on the semisynthetic derivatives of oleanane-, ursane- and quinone methide friedelane-type PTs with anticancer activity. A brief introduction concerning the PTs and their anticancer activity is given, and the main semisynthetic modifications that have been performed between 2012 and early 2017 are reviewed and discussed.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic; Humans; Indolequinones; Neoplasms; Oleanolic Acid; Structure-Activity Relationship; Triterpenes

Pentacyclic triterpenoids are a large class of natural isoprenoids that are widely biosynthesized in higher plants. These compounds are potent anticancer agents that exhibit antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, antiinflammatory and proapoptotic activities. Although their effects on multiple pathways have been reported, unifying mechanisms of action have not yet been established. To date, a huge number of semisynthetic derivatives have been synthesized in different laboratories on the basis of triterpenoid scaffolds, and many have been assayed for their biological activities. The present review focuses on natural triterpenoids of the oleanane-, ursane- and lupane-types and their semisynthetic derivatives. Here, we summarize the diverse cellular and molecular targets of these compounds and the signal pathways involved in the performance of their antitumour actions. Among the most relevant mechanisms involved are cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagy triggered by the effect of triterpenoids on TGF-β and HER cell surface receptors and the downstream PI3KAkt- mTOR and IKK/NF-kB signaling axis, STAT3 pathway and MAPK cascades.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Humans; Neoplasms; NF-kappa B; Oleanolic Acid; Signal Transduction; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Triterpenes

Today cancer treatment is not only a question of eliminating cancer cells by induction of cell death. New therapeutic strategies also include targeting the tumour microenvironment, avoiding angiogenesis, modulating the immune response or the chronic inflammation that is often associated with cancer. Furthermore, the induction of redifferentiation of dedifferentiated cancer cells is an interesting aspect in developing new therapy strategies. Plants provide a broad spectrum of potential drug substances for cancer therapy with multifaceted effects and targets. Pentacyclic triterpenes are one group of promising secondary plant metabolites. This review summarizes the potential of triterpenes belonging to the lupane, oleanane or ursane group, to treat cancer by different modes of action. Since Pisha et al. reported in 1995 that betulinic acid is a highly promising anticancer drug after inducing apoptosis in melanoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo, experimental work focused on the apoptosis inducing mechanisms of betulinic acid and other triterpenes. The antitumour effects were subsequently confirmed in a series of cancer cell lines from other origins, for example breast, colon, lung and neuroblastoma. In addition, in the last decade many studies have shown further effects that justify the expectation that triterpenes are useful to treat cancer by several modes of action. Thus, triterpene acids are known mainly for their antiangiogenic effects as well as their differentiation inducing effects. In particular, lupane-type triterpenes, such as betulin, betulinic acid and lupeol, display anti-inflammatory activities which often accompany immune modulation. Triterpene acids as well as triterpene monoalcohols and diols also show an antioxidative potential. The pharmacological potential of triterpenes of the lupane, oleanane or ursane type for cancer treatment seems high; although up to now no clinical trial has been published using these triterpenes in cancer therapy. They provide a multitarget potential for coping with new cancer strategies. Whether this is an effective approach for cancer treatment has to be proven. Because various triterpenes are an increasingly promising group of plant metabolites, the utilisation of different plants as their sources is of interest. Parts of plants, for example birch bark, rosemary leaves, apple peel and mistletoe shoots are rich in triterpenes and provide different triterpene compositions.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Humans; Neoplasms; Oleanolic Acid; Pentacyclic Triterpenes; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Triterpenes

The bioactive properties of olive (Olea europaea) fruits and olive oil are largely attributed to terpenoid compounds, including diverse triterpenoids such as oleanolic, maslinic and ursolic acids, erythrodiol, and uvaol. They have applications in the agri-food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. Some key steps involved in the biosynthesis of these compounds are still unknown. Genome mining, biochemical analysis, and trait association studies have been used to identify major gene candidates controlling triterpenoid content of olive fruits. Here, we identify and functionally characterize an oxidosqualene cyclase (OeBAS) required for the production of the major triterpene scaffold β-amyrin, the precursor of erythrodiol, oleanolic and maslinic acids, and a cytochrome P450 (CYP716C67) that mediates 2α oxidation of the oleanane- and ursane-type triterpene scaffolds to produce maslinic and corosolic acids, respectively. To confirm the enzymatic functions of the entire pathway, we have reconstituted the olive biosynthetic pathway for oleanane- and ursane-type triterpenoids in the heterologous host, Nicotiana benthamiana. Finally, we have identified genetic markers associated with oleanolic and maslinic acid fruit content on the chromosomes carrying the OeBAS and CYP716C67 genes. Our results shed light on the biosynthesis of olive triterpenoids and provide new gene targets for germplasm screening and breeding for high triterpenoid content.

Topics: Fruit; Olea; Plant Breeding; Triterpenes

A series of new lupane, ursane, and oleanane type triterpenic A-seco-derivatives containing bromo-, azido-, alkyne-, 1H-tetrazol-5-yl-, 5-methyloxazol-2-yl-, N-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)but-2-yn-1-yl), and a carbonyl group at C2, C24, C28, C30 positions has been synthesized. The bioactivity was evaluated by Ellman's method, and the results showed that most of the compounds displayed moderate acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities in vitro. Among them, A-seco-derivatives of 28-oxo-allobetuline and betulinic acid with bromo- and azido-groups exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity against AChE. Extra experiments showed methyl 2-cyano-3,4-seco-dibromo- and 2-cyano-3,4-seco-diazido-derivatives of betulinic acid as mixed-type inhibitors, with Ki values as low as K

Topics: Acetylcholinesterase; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Lupanes; Molecular Structure; Structure-Activity Relationship; Triterpenes

Dozens of triterpenes have been isolated from Camptotheca acuminata, however, triterpene metabolism in this plant remains poorly understood. The common C28 carboxy located in the oleanane-type and ursane-type triterpenes indicates the existence of a functionally active triterpene, C28 oxidase, in this plant. Thorough mining and screening of the CYP716 genes were initiated using the multi-omics database for C. acuminata. Two CYP716A (CYP716A394 and CYP716A395) and three CYP716C (CYP716C80-CYP716C82) were identified based on conserved domain analyses and hierarchical cluster analyses. CYP716 microsomal proteins were prepared and their enzymatic activities were evaluated in vitro. The CYP716 classified into the CYP716C subfamily displays β-amyrin oxidation activity, and CYP716A displays α-amyrin and lupeol oxidation activity, based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses. The oxidation products were determined based on their mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrums. The optimum reaction conditions and kinetic parameters for CYP716C were determined, and functions were verified in Nicotiana benthaminana. Relative quantitative analyses revealed that these CYP716C genes were enriched in the leaves of C. acuminata plantlets after 60 d. These results indicate that CYP716C plays a dominant role in oleanane-type triterpene metabolism in the leaves of C. acuminata via a substrate-specific manner, and CYP716A is responsible for ursane- and lupane-type triterpene metabolism in fruit. This study provides valuable insights into the unique CYP716C-mediated oxidation step of pentacyclic triterpene biosynthesis in C. acuminata.

Topics: Camptotheca; Oxidoreductases; Pentacyclic Triterpenes; Triterpenes

The triterpenes in bitter gourd (

Topics: Chromosomes, Plant; Exons; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genes, Plant; Genome, Plant; Introns; Metabolome; Metabolomics; Momordica charantia; Multigene Family; Oleanolic Acid; Phylogeny; Plant Roots; RNA, Messenger; Transformation, Genetic; Triterpenes

One new oleanane-type nortriterpene, rosanortriterpene A (

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Bacteria; Carbon-13 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Fruit; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Mice; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Oleanolic Acid; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; RAW 264.7 Cells; Rosa; Triterpenes

Two polyhydroxylated oleanane and seven ursane triterpenoids were isolated from aerial parts of Salvia grossheimii. The chemical structures of the undescribed triterpenoids (1-6) were characterized using 1 and 2 D NMR and ESI-MS spectral data as; 2α, 3β, 11α -trihydroxy-olean-12- ene (1), 2α, 3β, 11α-trihydroxy-olean-18-ene (2), 2α- acetoxy-urs-12-ene-3β, 11α, 20β-triol (3), 3-keto-urs-12-ene-1β, 11α, 20β -triol (4), 2α, 3β-diacetoxy-urs-12-ene-1β, 11α, 20β -triol (5), and 3β-acetoxy-urs-12-ene-1β, 11α, 20β -triol (6). All compounds were evaluated for the in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory and cytotoxic activities against MCF-7 human cancer cell line. Compounds 1, 2, 4, and 6 showed in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC

Topics: A549 Cells; alpha-Glucosidases; Cell Survival; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Kinetics; MCF-7 Cells; Molecular Structure; Oleanolic Acid; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Salvia; Structure-Activity Relationship; Triterpenes

A new oleanane triterpenoid, 2

Topics: Animals; Cytotoxins; Humans; Hydroxylation; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Molecular Structure; Myrtaceae; Neuroprotective Agents; Oleanolic Acid; PC12 Cells; Plant Roots; Rats; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Triterpenes

Seven new pentacyclic triterpenoids including six ursane-type, marinoids A-F (1-6), and one oleanane-type, marinoid G (7), along with five known analogues (8-12), were separated from the roots of Morinda officinalis var. officinalis. Their structures were assigned by spectroscopic means especially analysis of 2D NMR data, with the absolute configurations of 1 and 2 being determined via comparison of their experimental ECD spectra with the computed ones. Selective compounds displayed cytotoxic activity against two human osteosarcoma cell lines and also antibacterial effects against one Gram positive and one Gram negative strains.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cell Line, Tumor; China; Humans; Molecular Structure; Morinda; Oleanolic Acid; Phytochemicals; Plant Roots; Triterpenes

One hitherto unknown 24-nor-13,27-cycloursane-type triterpenoid, lucumic acid A (1), one new 24-nor-ursane triterpenoid, lucumic acid B (2), along with six known triterpenoids were isolated from the ethanol extract of the leaves of Lucuma nervosa. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation. Lucumic acid A (1) is the first example of a 24-nor-triterpenoid with a 13,27-cyclopropane ring.

Topics: China; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; Molecular Structure; Oleanolic Acid; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Pouteria; Triterpenes

Centella asiatica is widely used as a medicinal plant due to accumulation of the ursane-type triterpene saponins asiaticoside and madecassoside. The molecular structure of both compounds suggests that they are biosynthesized from α-amyrin via three hydroxylations, and the respective Cyt P450-dependent monooxygenases (P450 enzymes) oxidizing the C-28 and C-2α positions have been reported. However, a third enzyme hydroxylating C-23 remained elusive. We previously identified 40,064 unique sequences in the transcriptome of C. asiatica elicited by methyl jasmonate, and among them we have now found 149 unigenes encoding putative P450 enzymes. In this set, 23 full-length cDNAs were recognized, 13 of which belonged to P450 subfamilies previously implicated in secondary metabolism. Four of these genes were highly expressed in response to jasmonate treatment, especially in leaves, in accordance with the accumulation patterns of asiaticoside. The functions of these candidate genes were tested using heterologous expression in yeast cells. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that yeast expressing only the oxidosqualene synthase CaDDS produced the asiaticoside precursor α-amyrin (along with its isomer β-amyrin), while yeast co-expressing CaDDS and CYP716A83 also contained ursolic acid along with oleanolic acid. This P450 enzyme thus acts as a multifunctional triterpenoid C-28 oxidase converting amyrins into corresponding triterpenoid acids. Finally, yeast strains co-expressing CaDDS, CYP716A83 and CYP714E19 produced hederagenin and 23-hydroxyursolic acid, showing that CYP714E19 is a multifunctional triterpenoid oxidase catalyzing the C-23 hydroxylation of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid. Overall, our results demonstrate that CaDDS, CYP716A83 and CYP714E19 are C. asiatica enzymes catalyzing consecutive steps in asiaticoside biosynthesis.

Topics: Biosynthetic Pathways; Centella; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Oleanolic Acid; Phylogeny; Plant Proteins; Plants, Medicinal; Triterpenes

Five new ursane-type triterpenoids, spicatusoids A-E (1, 3-6), and three known ones (2, 7, and 8), and a known oleanane-type triterpenoid (9) were isolated from the aerial parts of Clerodendranthus spicatus. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. In particular, the structure of 3 including its absolute configuration was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Cell viability of all the compounds against rat kidney fibroblast cells (NRK-49F) with or without TGF-β1 induction and human cancer cells (HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, and SW-480) was examined by using MTT or MST assays. It was found that, with exception of 1, all the tested compounds could inhibit cell proliferation in TGF-β1 induced NRK-49F cells with compounds 2 being most active.

Topics: Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Fibroblasts; Humans; Lamiaceae; Molecular Structure; Oleanolic Acid; Rats; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Triterpenes

The medicinal plant sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) accumulates bioactive ursane- and oleanane-type pentacyclic triterpenes (PCTs), ursolic acid and oleanolic acid, respectively, in a spatio-temporal manner; however, the biosynthetic enzymes and their contributions towards PCT biosynthesis remain to be elucidated. Two CYP716A subfamily cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP716A252 and CYP716A253) are identified from a methyl jasmonate-responsive expression sequence tag collection and functionally characterized, employing yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) expression platform and adapting virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in sweet basil. CYP716A252 and CYP716A253 catalyzed sequential three-step oxidation at the C-28 position of α-amyrin and β-amyrin to produce ursolic acid and oleanolic acid, respectively. Although CYP716A253 was more efficient than CYP716A252 for amyrin C-28 oxidation in yeast, VIGS revealed essential roles for both of these CYP716As in constitutive biosynthesis of ursolic acid and oleanolic acid in sweet basil leaves. However, CYP716A253 played a major role in elicitor-induced biosynthesis of ursolic acid and oleanolic acid. Overall, the results suggest similar as well as distinct roles of CYP716A252 and CYP716A253 for the spatio-temporal biosynthesis of PCTs. CYP716A252 and CYP716A253 might be useful for the alternative and sustainable production of PCTs in microbial host, besides increasing plant metabolite content through genetic modification.

Topics: Acetates; Cyclopentanes; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Expressed Sequence Tags; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Ocimum basilicum; Oleanolic Acid; Oxylipins; Plant Proteins; Triterpenes

Topics: Animals; Complement Inactivator Proteins; Erythrocytes; Hemolysis; Ilex; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Molecular Conformation; Oleanolic Acid; Plant Roots; Sheep; Structure-Activity Relationship; Triterpenes

A variety of new and earlier synthesized lupane, oleanane, ursane and dammarane triterpenoids have been investigated for their inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase. 2,3-Indole-21 β-acetyl-20β,28-epoxy-18α,19βH-ursane and 3-oxo-3A-homo-3a-aza-20(S)-hydroxydammar-24(25)-ene were synthesized for the first time. The compounds 3, 4, 8-11 and 14 demonstrated strong in vitro inhibitory activity towards α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ values of 37.5-115.1 µM. 3-Deoxy-3a-homo-3a-aza-28-cinnamoyloxy-20(29)-lupene, with an IC₅₀ of 6.67 µM was 60-fold more active than the market drug acarbose.

Topics: alpha-Glucosidases; Dammaranes; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Molecular Structure; Oleanolic Acid; Triterpenes

Twenty polyoxygenated triterpenes, including nineteen ursanes and one oleanane, were characterized from the stem material of Siphonodon celastrineus (Celastraceae) through the application of spectroscopic techniques and chemical transformation. Three of the ursane-type triterpenoids possessed the rare 13,27-cyclopropane ring skeleton.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Celastraceae; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Molecular Structure; Oleanolic Acid; Plant Stems; Triterpenes

Many of oleanolic and ursolic pentacyclic triterpenoid isomers generally coexist. There is a small difference in their structures. Based on coordination chromatography theory, a reversed-phase high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPLC) method has been investigated for improving the isomers' resolution by adding suitable agents in mobile phase, and the separation rule was summarized. With the calculation analysis, the space sizes of isomers were in the range of 3.77-5.65 Å. The total minimum energy in the inclusion of guest and β-CD had the biggest reduction, compared with the energy in the simple mixture of guest and β-CD (such as "asiaticoside-B" and "β-CD," from 196.4406 to 95.0670 kJ mol(-1)). So, β-CD (the cavity space size is in the range of 6.00-6.50 Å) and its derivatives were selected as the suitable agents. The experiment results showed that the resolution might be improved by adding the hydrophilic β-CD derivatives in mobile phase, such as Glu-β-CD, when the isomer structures carry big hydrophilic groups.

Topics: Chromatography, Thin Layer; Isomerism; Oleanolic Acid; Pentacyclic Triterpenes; Triterpenes

Three new ursane- and four new oleanane- type triterpenoids 1-7 were isolated, along with six known compounds 8-13, from the methanolic extract of Microtropis fokienensis. All structures were elucidated by mass and NMR spectroscopic methods. The isolates 4-10 and known compounds 14-17 that were previously isolated from this material were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity based on effects against superoxide anion generation and elastase release by neutrophils in response to fMLP/CB. 11α,30-Dihydroxy-2,3-seco-olean-12-en-2,3-dioic anhydride (7) was the first triterpene anhydride from the genus of Microtropis to have the ring A expanded to a seven-membered ring; it showed significant anti-inflammatory activity against superoxide anion generation and elastase release. Unexpectedly, 30-hydroxy-2,3-seco-lup-20(29)-ene-2,3-dioic acid (17) showed the best effect against superoxide anion generation and elastase release with IC50 values of 0.06±0.01 and 1.03±0.35 µg/mL, respectively. Compound 17 had a dioic acid function, and compound 7 had an anhydride function modification in ring A; both showed promising activity in the target assays.

Topics: Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Celastraceae; Humans; Methanol; Molecular Structure; Neutrophils; Oleanolic Acid; Pancreatic Elastase; Plant Extracts; Plant Stems; Solvents; Structure-Activity Relationship; Superoxides; Triterpenes

The enzyme 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) converts cortisone to the active glucocorticoid cortisol, thereby acting as a cellular switch to mediate glucocorticoid action in many tissues. Several studies have indicated that 11beta-HSD1 plays a crucial role in the onset of type 2 diabetes and central obesity. As a consequence, selective inhibition of 11beta-HSD1 in humans might become a new and promising approach for lowering blood glucose concentrations and for counteracting the accumulation of visceral fat and its related metabolic abnormalities in type 2 diabetes. In this study, we present the synthesis and the biological evaluation of ursan or oleanan type triterpenoids which may act as selective 11beta-HSD1 inhibitors in liver as well as in peripheral tissues, like adipocytes and muscle cells. In order to rationalise the outcomes of the inhibition data, docking simulations of the ligands were performed on the experimentally determined structure of 11beta-HSD1. Furthermore, we discuss the structural determinants that confer enzymatic specificity. From our investigation, valuable information has been obtained to design selective 11beta-HSD1 blockers based on the oleanan and ursan scaffold.

Topics: 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1; 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2; Carbenoxolone; Catalytic Domain; Enzyme Inhibitors; Humans; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Oleanolic Acid; Triterpenes