Anti-glycative potential of triterpenes: A mini-review

Triterpene compounds occur naturally in many herbs and plant foods. Triterpenes such as ursolic, oleanolic, and betulinic acid definitely possess antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities as well as an inhibitory effect on advanced glycation end-product (AGE) formation. Furthermore, the effects of triterpenes upon the activity and expression of aldose reductase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, and glyoxalase I, enzymes involved in the polyol pathway, have been examined, with positive results reported. These studies indicate triterpenes as potent antiglycative agents, suggesting that they can benefit the prevention of and/or therapy for glycation-related diseases such as diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer's disease. Further studies should examine their impact on receptors of AGE (RAGEs) and AGE-RAGE interaction in order to bolster the antiglycative application of these natural compounds.