Przeciwnowotworowe działanie roślinnych triterpenoidów: kwasu oleanolowego i ursolowego oraz ich pochodnych

Abstrakt

Oleanolic acid and ursolic acid occur widely in species of the /Magnoliopsydia/ class. They are classified as pentacyclic triterpenoids, which belong to a large group of compounds known as secondary metabolites. Glycoside derivatives of oleanolic and ursolic acids are saponins, so-called because of their ability to form in water a stable soapy foam. Oleanolic acid and ursolic acid as well as their derivatives reveal antioxidant, antimutagenic and cytotoxic activity. They prevent formation of cancer, inhibit tumor promotion, differentiation of cancer cells and angiogenesis. Therefore potentially they can be used in chemoprevention as well as in cancer therapy.