Oleanane triterpenes

Aleuritolic acid (triterpene) Fulvoplumierin (iridoid monoterpene) Oleanolic acid (oleanane triterpene)... 

G. R. Mallavarapu "Recent Advances in Oleanane Triterpenes in A.U. Rahman Studies in Natural Product Chemistry. Elsevier Science Publ. B.V., Amsterdam, 7 (1990), 131. 

The tincture of Aesculus hippocastanum seeds has been used successfully for haemorrhoids and venous congestion. Aescin, a mixture of oleanane triterpene saponins with a yield of about 13% relative to the crude drug weight, shows anti-inflammatory action, and it is administered orally for clinical use [19]. 

The root of the Bupleurum species has been used in China as a traditional remedy for inflammatory diseases [20]. The main constituents of this drug are oligoglycosides of oleanane triterpenes called saikosaponin a-f. Saikosaponins cause a reduction in histamine secretion and enhance the anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids [22]. Some of them have been shown to inhibit prostaglandin E2 production in the macrophage culture system [23]. It has recently been reported that the saikosaponins present in Heteromorpha trifoliata, which are structurally related to those of Bupleurum falcatum (saiko in Japanese), have anti-inflammatory activity. One in vivo study concluded that the isolated saikosaponins act by a mechanism close to that of steroids, but do not involve the glucocorticoid receptor [24]. 

Akihisa, T, Yasukawa, K, Kimura, Y, Takido, M, Kokke, WC, Tamura, T Five D C-friedo-oleanane triterpenes from the seeds of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim, and their anti-inflammatory effects. Bio. Pharm. Bull. 42(5), 1101-1105 (1994)... 

Z.-H. Cheng, B.-Y. Yu, G. A. Cordell, S.-X. Qiu, Biotransformation of quinovic acid glycosides by microbes Direct conversion of the ursane to the oleanane triterpene skeleton by Nocardia sp. NRRL 5646, Org. Lett. 2004.6,3163-B165. 

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