Triterpene
Encyclopedia
Triterpenes are terpene
s consisting of six isoprene units and have the molecular formula C30H48.
The pentacyclic triterpenes can be classified into lupane
, oleanane
or ursane groups.
Animal- and plant-derived triterpenes exist, such as:
Triterpenoid
s are thought of as modified triterpenes, such as lanosterol
.
Terpene
Terpenes are a large and diverse class of organic compounds, produced by a variety of plants, particularly conifers, though also by some insects such as termites or swallowtail butterflies, which emit terpenes from their osmeterium. They are often strong smelling and thus may have had a protective...
s consisting of six isoprene units and have the molecular formula C30H48.
The pentacyclic triterpenes can be classified into lupane
Lupane
Lupane can refer to :*Lupane District in Zimbabwe*Lupane triterpenes...
, oleanane
Oleanane
Oleanane is a natural triterpene. It forms the central core for a wide variety of chemical compounds found in flowering plants which are referred to collectively as oleanane triterpenes.Some oleanane triterpenes have a suppressing effect on insect pests...
or ursane groups.
Animal- and plant-derived triterpenes exist, such as:
- squaleneSqualeneSqualene is a natural organic compound originally obtained for commercial purposes primarily from shark liver oil, though plant sources are used as well, including amaranth seed, rice bran, wheat germ, and olives. All plants and animals produce squalene, including humans...
- ambreinAmbreinAmbrein is a fragrant substance that is used in the perfume industry. It is the chief constituent of ambergris, a secretion from the digestive system of the sperm whale, and has been suggested as the possible active component producing the supposed aphrodisiac effects of ambergris.It is a...
(a tricyclic triterpene alcohol) - ganoderic acidGanoderic acidGanoderic acids are a class of closely related triterpenoids found in Ganoderma mushrooms. For thousands of years, the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma fungi have been used in traditional medicines in East Asia. Consequently, there have been efforts to identify the chemical constituents that may be...
(quad cyclic)
Triterpenoid
Triterpenoid
Triterpenoids are terpenoid derviatives of triterpene molecules.They may have useful anti-cancer properties.Notable examples*Betulinic acid, possible anti-cancer drug*Bardoxolone methyl, inflammation modulator*Triterpenoid saponins...
s are thought of as modified triterpenes, such as lanosterol
Lanosterol
Lanosterol is a tetracyclic triterpenoid, which is the compound from which all steroids are derived.-Role in creation of steroids:Elaboration of lanosterol under enzyme catalysis leads to the core structure of steroids. 14-Demethylation of lanosterol by CYP51 eventually yields...
.