Development and validation of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for quantification of Lupeol in plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic study in rats

Broad-Spectrum Therapeutic Potentials of the Multifaceted Triterpene Lupeol and Its Derivatives

Lupeol (LUP), a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpene, is found in various fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants and is evident to possess diverse pharmacological activities. This study aimed to consolidate its findings based on updated database reports. Findings suggest that LUP and some of its derivatives have promising biological roles, including anticancer effects. Notably, LUP induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in cancer cells while sparing normal cells, highlighting its selective cytotoxicity. By modifying pathways such as NF-κB and phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, LUP demonstrates anticancer activity, reducing LDL oxidation by 34.4% and causing cancer cells to undergo apoptosis while leaving healthy cells unaffected. Moreover, it has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; thus, it may act against conditions like arthritis, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. It has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities and can be used as an alternative to conventional antibiotics. LUP and its nanoformulations (PEGylated liposomes) improved biopharmaceutical profiles in test systems. It also showed neuroprotective effects, particularly against Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Taken together, LUP has multi-target therapeutic approaches against various diseases and pathological conditions, advocating for its inclusion in future clinical trials.

Exploring the therapeutic potential of lupeol: A review of its mechanisms, clinical applications, and advances in bioavailability enhancement

Lupeol, a naturally occurring triterpenoid, has garnered significant attention for its diverse range of biological activities and potential therapeutic applications. This comprehensive review delves into the various aspects of lupeol, including its sources, extraction methods, chemical characteristics, pharmacokinetics, safety evaluation, mechanisms of action, and applications in disease treatment. We highlight the compound's unique carbon skeleton and its role in inflammation regulation, antioxidant activity, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects. The review also underscores lupeol's potential in cancer therapy, cardiovascular protection, metabolic disease management, and wound healing. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges and future perspectives of lupeol's clinical application, emphasizing the need for further research to improve its bioavailability and explore its full therapeutic potential. The review concludes by recognizing the significance of lupeol in drug development and healthcare, with expectations for future breakthroughs in medical applications.

Pakpahan N, Sitohang AI, Sukarno MA, Yuandani, Harahap Y, Setyowati EP, Park MN, Yusoff SD, Zainalabidin S, Prananda AT, Mahadi MK, Kim B, Harahap U, Syahputra RA. In-depth analysis of lupeol: delving into the diverse pharmacological profile

Lupeol, a naturally occurring lupane-type pentacyclic triterpenoid, is widely distributed in various edible vegetables, fruits, and medicinal plants. Notably, it is found in high concentrations in plants like Tamarindus indica, Allanblackia monticola, and Emblica officinalis, among others. Quantitative studies have highlighted its presence in Elm bark, Olive fruit, Aloe leaf, Ginseng oil, Mango pulp, and Japanese Pear bark. This compound is synthesized from squalene through the mevalonate pathway and can also be synthetically produced in the lab, addressing challenges in natural product synthesis. Over the past four decades, extensive research has demonstrated lupeol's multifaceted pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and antibacterial effects. Despite its significant therapeutic potential, clinical applications of lupeol have been limited by its poor water solubility and bioavailability. Recent advancements have focused on nano-based delivery systems to enhance its bioavailability, and the development of various lupeol derivatives has further amplified its bioactivity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in understanding the pharmacological benefits of lupeol. It also discusses innovative strategies to improve its bioavailability, thereby enhancing its clinical efficacy. The aim is to consolidate current knowledge and stimulate further research into the therapeutic potential of lupeol and its derivatives.

Lupeol: A dietary and medicinal triterpene with therapeutic potential

Lupeol, a triterpene derived from various plants, has emerged as a potent dietary supplement with extensive therapeutic potential. This review offers a comprehensive examination of lupeol's applications across diverse health conditions. By meticulously analyzing current scientific literature, we have synthesized findings that underscore lupeol's impact on cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, neurological diseases, dermatological conditions, nephrological issues, and cardiovascular health. The review delves into molecular studies that reveal lupeol's ability to modulate disease pathways and alleviate symptoms, positioning it as a promising therapeutic agent. Moreover, we discuss the potential role of lupeol in clinical practice and public health strategies, emphasizing its substantial benefits as a natural compound. This thorough analysis serves as a critical resource for researchers, providing insights into the multifaceted therapeutic properties of lupeol and its potential to significantly enhance health outcomes.

Anticancer potential of phytochemicals derived from mangrove plants: Comprehensive mechanistic insights

Cancer is a collection of illnesses characterized by aberrant cellular proliferation that can infiltrate or metastasize to distant anatomical sites, posing a notable threat to human well-being due to its substantial morbidity and death rates worldwide. The potential of plant-derived natural compounds as anticancer medicines has been assessed owing to their favorable attributes of few side effects and significant antitumor activity. Mangrove plants and their derived compounds have been scientifically shown to exhibit many significant beneficial biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and hepatoprotective properties. This study summarized mangrove plants and their derived compounds as potential anticancer agents, with an emphasis on the underlying molecular mechanisms. To explore this, we gathered data on the preclinical (in vivo and in vitro) anticancer effects of mangrove plants and their derived compounds from reputable literature spanning 2000 to 2023. We conducted thorough searches in various academic databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online, SpringerLink, Google Scholar, Scopus, and the Web of Science. The results demonstrated that mangrove plants and their derived compounds have promising anticancer properties in preclinical pharmacological test systems through various molecular mechanisms, including induction of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, autophagy, antiproliferative, antimetastatic, and other miscellaneous actions. Upon thorough observation of the pertinent information, it is suggested that mangrove plants and their derived chemicals may serve as a potential lead in the development of novel drugs for cancer therapy.

Effects of natural products on angiogenesis in melanoma

Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and originates from genetic mutations in melanocytes. The disease is multifactorial, but its main cause is overexposure to UV radiation. Currently, available chemotherapy expresses little to no results, which may justify the extensive use of natural products to treat this cancer. In this study, we reviewed the inhibition of melanoma angiogenesis by natural products and its potential mechanisms using literature from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Ovid, ScienceDirect and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. According to summarizes 27 natural products including alkaloids, polyphenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, and steroids that effectively inhibit angiogenesis in melanoma. In addition to these there are 15 crude extracts that can be used as promising agents to inhibit angiogenesis, but their core components still deserve further investigation. There are current studies on melanoma angiogenesis involving oxidative stress, immune-inflammatory response, cell proliferation and migration and capillary formation. The above natural products can be involved in melanoma angiogenesis through core targets such as VE-cadherin, COX-2, iNOS, VEGF, bFGF, FGF2,MMP2,MMP9,IL-1β,IL-6 play a role in inhibiting melanoma angiogenesis. Effective excavation of natural products can not only clarify the mechanism of drug action and key targets, but also help to promote the preclinical research of natural products for melanoma treatment and further promote the development of new clinical drugs, which will bring the gospel to the vast number of patients who are deeply afflicted by melanoma.

Lupeol synergizes with 5-fluorouracil to combat c-MET/EphA2 mediated chemoresistance in triple negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most elusive subtype of breast cancer that encounters treatment dilemmas owing to the paucity of druggable targets. We found hyperactivation of c-MET and ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2) in patients treated with 5FU driven chemotherapy which correlated with lower disease-free survival. However, silencing of both these genes resulted in a marked decrease in the invasive, migratory, and tumorigenic potential of TNBC cells, indicating that a dual target strategy is actionable. Lupeol is a phytochemical, with potent anticancer efficacy and minimal side effects in preclinical studies. A synergistic strategy with 5FU and Lupeol elicited promising anticancer responses in vitro, in vivo, and in patient-derived ex vivo tumor culture models. This synergistic regimen is effective, even in the presence of HGF, which mechanistically orchestrates the activation of c-MET and EphA2. These data lay the foundation for the clinical validation of this combination therapy for TNBC patients.

A Triterpenoid Lupeol as an Antioxidant and Anti-Neuroinflammatory Agent: Impacts on Oxidative Stress in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease illustrated by neuronal dysfunctions, leading to memory weaknesses and personality changes mostly in the aged population worldwide. The exact cause of AD is unclear, but numerous studies have addressed the involvement of oxidative stress (OS), induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS), to be one of the leading causes in developing AD. OS dysregulates the cellular homeostasis, causing abnormal protein and lipid metabolism. Nutrition plays a pivotal role in modulating the antioxidant system and decreases the neuronal ROS level, thus playing an important therapeutic role in neurodegenerative diseases, especially in AD. Hence, medicinal herbs and their extracts have received global attention as a commercial source of antioxidants Lupeol. Lupeol is a pentacyclic triterpenoid and has many biological functions. It is available in fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants. It has shown effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and higher blood-brain barrier permeability. Also, the binding and inhibitory potentials of Lupeol have been investigated and proved to be effective against certain receptor proteins and enzymes in AD studies by computational molecular docking approaches. Therefore, AD-related research has gained interest in investigating the therapeutic effects of Lupeol. However, despite its beneficial effects in AD, there is still a lack of research in Lupeol. Hence, we compiled in this analysis all preclinical research that looked at Lupeol as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent for AD.

Natural Inhibitors of P-glycoprotein in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains an insidious neoplasm due to the percentage of patients who develop resistance to both classic chemotherapy and emerging drugs. Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a complex process determined by multiple mechanisms, and it is often caused by the overexpression of efflux pumps, the most important of which is P-glycoprotein (P-gp). This mini-review aims to examine the advantages of using natural substances as P-gp inhibitors, focusing on four molecules: phytol, curcumin, lupeol, and heptacosane, and their mechanism of action in AML.

In Silico Analysis of PTP1B Inhibitors and TLC-MS Bioautography-Based Identification of Free Radical Scavenging and α-Amylase Inhibitory Compounds from Heartwood Extract of Pterocarpus marsupium

Type 2 diabetes mellitus leads to metabolic impairment caused by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, giving rise to chronic diabetic complications and poor disease prognosis. The heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium has been used in Ayurveda for a long time, and we sought to find the actual mechanism(s) driving its antidiabetic potential. Methanol was used to prepare the extract using a Soxhlet extraction, and the identification of metabolites was performed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and ultraperformance-liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy (UP-LCMS). The antioxidant potential of methanolic heartwood extract of Pterocarpus marsupium MHPM was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and a reducing power assay. The α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory potential of MHPM were investigated for their antidiabetic activity against acarbose. TLC-MS-bioautography was performed to identify the compounds responsible for possible antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. Moreover, targeting protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), a key regulator of insulin resistance, by identified metabolites from MHPM through molecular docking and all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations was also undertaken, suggesting its potential as an antidiabetic herb. The IC₅₀ of free-radical scavenging activity of MHPM against DPPH was 156.342 ± 10.70 μg/mL. Further, the IC₅₀ values of MHPM in α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymatic inhibitions were 158.663 ± 10.986 μg/mL and 180.21 ± 11.35 μg/mL, respectively. TLC-MS-bioautography identified four free radical scavenging metabolites, and vanillic acid identified by MS analysis showed both free radical scavenging activity and α-amylase inhibitory activity. Among the identified metabolites from MHPM, epicatechin showed significant PTP1B docking interactions, and its MD simulations revealed that PTP1B forms a stable protein-ligand complex with epicatechin throughout the progression, which indicates that epicatechin may be used as a promising scaffold in the development of the antidiabetic drug after isolation from Pterocarpus marsupium. Overall, these findings imply that Pterocarpus marsupium is a source of valuable metabolites that are accountable for its antioxidant and antidiabetic properties.

Lupeol and its derivatives as anticancer and anti-inflammatory agents: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic efficacy

Lupeol is a natural triterpenoid that widely exists in edible fruits and vegetables, and medicinal plants. In the last decade, a plethora of studies on the pharmacological activities of lupeol have been conducted and have demonstrated that lupeol possesses an extensive range of pharmacological activities such as anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Pharmacokinetic studies have indicated that absorption of lupeol by animals was rapid despite its nonpolar characteristics, and lupeol belongs to class II BCS (biopharmaceutics classification system) compounds. Moreover, the bioactivities of some isolated or synthesized lupeol derivatives have been investigated, and these results showed that, with modification to C-3 or C-19, some derivatives exhibit stronger activities, e.g., antiprotozoal or anticancer activity. This review aims to summarize the advances in pharmacological and pharmacokinetic studies of lupeol in the last decade with an emphasis on its anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as the research progress of lupeol derivatives thus far, to provide researchers with the latest information, point out the limitations of relevant research at the current stage and the aspects that should be strengthened in future research.

Rapid Characterizaiton of Chemical Constituents of the Tubers of Gymnadenia conopsea by UPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS Analysis

Gymnadenia conopsea R. Br. is a traditional Tibetan medicinal plant that grows at altitudes above 3000 m, which is used to treat neurasthenia, asthma, coughs, and chronic hepatitis. However, a comprehensive configuration of the chemical profile of this plant has not been reported because of the complexity of its chemical constituents. In this study, a rapid and precise method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) combined with an Orbitrap mass spectrometer (UPLC–Orbitrap–MS/MS) was established in both positive- and negative-ion modes to rapidly identify various chemical components in the tubers of G. conopsea for the first time. Finally, a total of 91 compounds, including 17 succinic acid ester glycosides, 9 stilbenes, 6 phenanthrenes, 19 alkaloids, 11 terpenoids and steroids, 20 phenolic acid derivatives, and 9 others, were identified in the tubers of G. conopsea based on the accurate mass within 3 ppm error. Furthermore, many alkaloids, phenolic acid derivates, and terpenes were reported from G. conopsea for the first time. This rapid method provides an important scientific basis for further study on the cultivation, clinical application, and functional food of G. conopsea.