A Review on Pharmacological Activities of Lupeol and its Triterpene Derivatives

Abstract

Lupeol is a pentacyclic triterpenoid commonly distributed in the plant kingdom and is found in edible fruits and vegetables. It is a naturally occurring triterpene that is used to reduce the inflammatory responses and also have immunomodulating properties. Lupeol and its derivatives have a great potential to act as an anti- inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-proliferative, anti-invasive, anti-angiogenic, anti-protozoal, and cholesterol-lowering agent. Various studies have shown that anti-inflammatory activity of lupeol through the modulation of p-38 pathways inhibits neuroinflammation in the cerebellum and induces neuroprotection. It has been also found effective on lung cancer (i.e A427 cancer cells and normal MRC-5 cells). Observation of inhibiting the growth of lung cancer cells is checked by MTT assay. Lupeol and its ester lupeol linoleate have been used to reduce the levels of hypercholesterolemia in the rats and decrease the activities of such enzymes namely Na+, K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase, and Mg2+. Lupeol also decreases the levels of calcium-oxalate and has cytoprotective action against free-radical-induced damage and also decreases the level of cadmium in the kidney. Keywords: Lupeol, anti- inflammatory, anti-protozoal, triterpenoids