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Planta Med 1997; 63(6): 487-493
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-957748
Review

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Anti-Inflammatory Actions of Pentacyclic Triterpenes

H. Safayhi, E.-R. Sailer
  • Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

1997

1997

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Pentacyclic triterpenes (PTs) as aglycones of saponins have a wide distribution in plants, and many of them have been used as anti-inflammatory remedies in folk medicine. This survey critically reviews the effects of PTs on proinflammatory mediator signalling pathways and data from experimental animal models and clinical trials. Because the knowledge of their actions is far from being satisfactory a critical summary of the partly promising but mostly scattered and preliminary data might promote productive research on chances and risks of PTs. Antiproliferative and anti-infectious actions and effects on intracellular cell signalling and hormone metabolism are beyond the scope of this short review, although such effects might also contribute to the understanding of the systemic anti-inflammatory actions of aglycones.

Key words

Pentacyclic triterpene pharmacology - terpenoids - sapogenins - inflammation - anti-inflammatory activity

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