Frankincense extracts and boswellic acids, biologically active pentacyclic triterpenes of frankincense, block leukotriene biosynthesis and exert potent anti-inflammatory effects. Screening for additional effects of boswellic acids on further proinflammatory pathways, we observed that acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, an established direct, nonredox and noncompetitive 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor,...

Triterpene acids, including ursolic acid (1), urjinolic acid (4) and oleanoic acid (5) along with a mixture of 2alpha-hydroxyursolic acid (2) and maslic acid (3) were isolated from methylene chloride extracts of the Miconia sellowiana and M. ligustroides species and their activities against the trypomastigote blood forms of Trypanosoma cruzi were evaluated. The potassium salt derivative of urso...

Prunella vulgaris L. (Labiatae) contains a variety of structurally diverse natural products, primarily rosmarinic acid (RA), ursolic acid (UA) and oleanolic acid (OA), which possess a wide array of biological properties. In the present study, P. vulgaris was harvested at three developmental stages (vegetative, full-flowering and mature-fruiting stages), dissected into stem and leaf tissues and ...

A simple highly precise method has been established for the determination of ursolic acid in three species of Swertia viz. S. angustifolia, S. paniculata, and S. alata. The assay combines identification and quantification of the analyte on silica gel 60GF254 HPTLC plates with visualization under UV light and scanning at 510 nm.

We and other studies have elucidated single molecules that can attenuate aging and extend longevity. Indeed, these molecules could prevent age-associated diseases simultaneously and probably extending healthy-life spans. In this review, we discuss recent advances, controversies, opportunities and challenges surrounding ursolic acid (UA) in relationship with aging. In this regard, UA also known ...

Members of Ganoderma genus, belong to Basidiomycota, such as Ganoderma applanatum and Ganoderma lucidum have been noticed in traditional and modern medicine and pharmacology for their medicinal properties and bioactive compounds. The present study is undertaken to determine whether there is difference between chemical properties of G. applanatum and G. lucidum. The fresh mature fruiting bodies ...

Twenty-three known chemical compounds were identified in the leaves of Leea indica (Burm. f.) Merr. (Leeaceae) by GC-MS analysis, spectroscopic techniques and co-TLC with authentic samples. The identified compounds include eleven hydrocarbons, phthalic acid, palmitic acid, 1-eicosanol, solanesol, farnesol, three phthalic acid esters, gallic acid, lupeol, beta-sitosterol and ursolic acid. Gallic...

Apple (Malus × domestica) accumulates bioactive ursane-, oleanane-, and lupane-type triterpenes in its fruit cuticle, but their biosynthetic pathway is still poorly understood. We used a homology-based approach to identify and functionally characterize two new oxidosqualene cyclases (MdOSC4 and MdOSC5) and one cytochrome P450 (CYP716A175). The gene expression patterns of these enzymes and of pr...

Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, is characterized by a deterioration of muscle quantity and quality leading to a gradual slowing of movement, a decline in strength and power, increased risk of fall-related injury, and, often, frailty. Since sarcopenia is largely attributed to various molecular mediators affecting fiber size, mitochondrial homeostasis, and apoptosis, the...