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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Harmful and Protective Effects of Terpenoids from African Medicinal Plants
Victor KueteArmelle T. MbavengRebecca Hammsubject
chemistry.chemical_compoundchemistryUrsolic acidBetulinic acidfungiPharmacologyAtractylosideBiologyMedicinal plantsOleanolic acidTerpenoidCicutoxinLupeoldescription
Terpenoids represent the most widespread group of natural products and can be found in all classes of living things. Many defensive compounds include sesquiterpenoids and diterpenoids from angiosperm species. Several terpenoids are biologically active and are exploited in the fight against cancer, malaria, inflammation, and a variety of infectious diseases. Nonetheless, some compounds of this group showed toxic effects causing gastrointestinal problems or central nervous system manifestations among others. Several bioactive terpenoids were identified in African medicine with numbers of them having organ-protective effects while few are known for their nonbeneficial properties for humans. In this chapter, we discuss both harmful and protective effects of the most common terpenoids found in African medicinal plants. We focus on the five most toxic terpenoids, cicutoxin, atractyloside, daphnetoxin, digoxin, and gibberellic acid, as well as on others having beneficial effects such as betulinic acid, lupeol, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid. Their occurrence in African medicinal plants is also discussed.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-01 |