Terpenes anti-inflammatory activities

C20H26O6. Mr 362.42, mp. 297-299°C decomp., [aJo -131.3° (pyridine), a diterpene of the kaurane type bitter principle from Rabdosia trichocarpa and R. ja-ponica shows antitumor and anti-inflammatory activity against Ehrlich ascites tumors and inhibits insect growth. E. can be transformed into numerous other di-terpenes such as abietanes, Aconitum alkaloids, gib-berellins. The biosynthesis proceeds from 16-kaurene. Lit. Agric. Biol. Chem. 43, 71 (1979) Karrer, No. 3712 Zechmeister 46, 77-157. - (CAS3776-39-4]... 

Finally, Maikov and coworkers used terpene-derived IV,IV -dioxide 21.22 in a total synthesis of marine serrulatane diterpene (—)-elisabethadione 21.67 (Scheme 21.9) exhibiting potent anti-inflammatory activity. Asymmetric crotylation of cinnamaldehyde 21.65 on a 5 mmol scale afforded syn-homoallylic alcohol 21.66 in 82% yield, 94% enantiomeric excess and with complete distereoselectivity. Other key reactions to install the stereogenic centres of the target molecule included anionic ory-Cope rearrangement and cationic cyclisation. ... 

Citrus fruits provide a diverse range of flavonoids [35] naringenin, a flavonone, has been shown to posses cholesterol-lowering and anticancer properties [36]. The naringin content of lime juice has been estimated to be -100 pg/g [37], and the lime is also a source of limonene, a biologically active terpene (see above). Other bioactive substances in lime (Table 4) include coumarins that possess anticoagulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. 

Phytosterols are another important terpene subclass. Two sterol molecules that are synthesized by plants are p-sitosterol and its glycoside. In animals, these two molecules exhibit anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic, antipyretic, and immune-modulating activity [29]. Ph34osterols were reported to block inflammatory enzymes, for example, by modifying the prostaglandin pathways in a way that protected platelets [30]. 

Terpene derivatives of salicylic acid show improved gastrointestinal tolerance but have decreased anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. Phenothiazines with salicylic acid functionality show only weak anti-inflammatory properties. ... 

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