A Review on Pharmacological Activities of Lupeol and its Triterpene Derivatives

Lupeol is a pentacyclic triterpenoid commonly distributed in the plant kingdom and is found in edible fruits and vegetables. It is a naturally occurring triterpene that is used to reduce the inflammatory responses and also have immunomodulating properties. Lupeol and its derivatives have a great potential to act as an anti- inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-proliferative, anti-invasive, anti-angiogenic, anti-protozoal, and cholesterol-lowering agent. Various studies have shown that anti-inflammatory activity of lupeol through the modulation of p-38 pathways inhibits neuroinflammation in the cerebellum and induces neuroprotection. It has been also found effective on lung cancer (i.e A427 cancer cells and normal MRC-5 cells). Observation of inhibiting the growth of lung cancer cells is checked by MTT assay. Lupeol and its ester lupeol linoleate have been used to reduce the levels of hypercholesterolemia in the rats and decrease the activities of such enzymes namely Na+, K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase, and Mg2+. Lupeol also decreases the levels of calcium-oxalate and has cytoprotective action against free-radical-induced damage and also decreases the level of cadmium in the kidney. Keywords: Lupeol, anti- inflammatory, anti-protozoal, triterpenoids

Cardioprotective effect of pentacyclic triterpene, lupeol and its ester on cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress

Cyclophosphamide (CP), an alkylating agent widely used in cancer chemotherapy, causes fatal cardiotoxicity. In the present study, lupeol, a pentacyclic triterpene, isolated from Crataeva nurvala stem bark and its ester, lupeol linoleate were investigated for their possible cardioprotective effects against CP-induced toxicity. Male albino rats of Wistar strain were injected with a single dose of CP (200 mg/kg body weight, ip). In CP-administered rats, activities of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase were elevated in serum with a concomitant decline in their activities in the cardiac tissue. Significant increases (P B < 0.001) in the levels of lipid peroxides and a decrease (P B < 0.001) in the levels of enzymic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione-s-transferase) and nonenzymic (reduced glutathione, vitamin C and vitamin E) antioxidants in the heart were also observed. The cardioprotective effects of lupeol (50 mg/kg body weight for 10 days orally) and its ester, lupeol linoleate (50 mg/kg body weight for 10 days orally) were evident from the significant reversal of the above alterations induced by CP. These observations highlight the antioxidant property of triterpenes and their cytoprotective action against CPinduced cardiotoxicity.