Special Issue "Triterpenes and Triterpenoids"
[Call for Papers] [Published Papers] [Leading Review Papers] [List of Keywords]
Deadline for paper submission: 30 June 2009

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Ms Jely He (Beijing Editorial Office)
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Prof. Dr. Vassilios Roussis
University of Athens
School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products Panepistimiopolis Zografou, GR 15771, Athens, Greece
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E-mail: [email protected]

Keywords:
natural product chemistry and medicinal chemistry of triterpenes and triterpeniods, Squalene,
Material science, Biomaterials
Bioassay, Pharmacological activity, Medicinal plant, Herb, Herbal medicine, Chinese medicine, Fungus, Mushroom.

Review papers to be considered and published:
Manuscript ID: molecules-triterp-20080917-tw-Fang
Type of Paper: Review
Title: The Pharmacological Activities and Therapeutic Potentials of Squalene and Its Related Derivatives for Skin
Authors: Zih-Rou Huang 1, Yin-Ku Lin 2,3, and Jia-You Fang 1,*
1 Pharmaceutics Laboratory, Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Chang Gung University, Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan
2 Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan
3 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Squalene is a triterpene that is an intermediate of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. Squalene, the main component of skin surface polyunsaturated lipids, can show some advantages for skin such as emollient, antioxidant, skin-hydrated, and antitumor activities. It is also used as a material in the topically-applied vehicles such as lipid emulsions and solid lipid nanoparticles. This review describes the effect of squalene on skin for preventive or therapeutic aims. The related substances of squalene, including β-carotene, ubiquinone (CoQ10), vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin K, are also included in this review article to introduce their benefits on skin physiology. We summarize the investigations performed in previous reports from the in vitro model to the clinical trials.
Keywords: Squalene, skin surface lipid, skin, antioxidant, topical delivery

Manuscript ID: molecules-triterp-20080918-za-Dubery
Type of Paper: Review
Title: Triterpenoid acids and triterpenoid glycosides in Centella asiatica (L.)., a valuable medicinal herb
Authors: Jacinda James and Ian A Dubery
Affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Centella asiatica and other related species accumulate large quantities of pentacyclic triterpene saponins. Centella triterpenoids include asiaticoside, centelloside, madecassoside, brahmoside, brahminoside, thankuniside, sceffoleoside, centellose, and asiatic, brahmic, centellic and madecassic acids. Triterpene saponins are common secondary metabolites and a number of these molecules are synthesized via the isoprenoid pathway to produce a hydrophobic triterpenoid structure (aglycone) containing hydrophilic sugar chain (glycone). These characteristics have been attributed to the biological activity of saponins. The Centella triterpenoids can be regarded as phytoanticipins due to their antimicrobial activities and protective role against attempted pathogen infection. Preparations of C. asiatica are used in traditional and alternative medicine due to the wide spectrum of pharmacological activities associated with these secondary metabolites.  Here, the biosynthesis of triterpenoid saponins and –sapogenins is reviewed and the range of metabolites found in C. asiatica summarized, together with their known biological activities. In addition, most plant-derived pharmacologically active compounds have complex structures, making chemical synthesis an economically uncompetitive option. A particular important benefit is the ability to manipulate and improve the production of desired compounds, thus biotechnological approaches to increase the concentrations of the metabolites are discussed.

Research articles to be considered and published:
Manuscript ID: molecules-triterp-01-br-Garcez
Type of Paper: Article
Title: Bioactive Pentacyclic Triterpenes from the Stems of Combretum laxum
Authors: Eder Bisoli, Walmir Silva Garcez, Lidilhone Hamerski, Caroline Tieppo and Fernanda Rodrigues Garcez*
Affiliation: Departamento de Qu�mica, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil, 79070-900
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Two new triterpene glucosides, b-D-glucopyranosyl 2a,3b,24-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oate and b-D-glucopyranosyl 2a,3b,23,24-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oate, in addition to nine known compounds belonging to three different (oleanane-, ursane- and lupane-type) triterpene classes have been isolated from the stems of a specimen of Combretum laxum growing in the “Pantanal” of the central-western region of Brazil. Among the known triterpenes, b-D-glucopyranosyl 2a,3b,6b-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oate is reported for the first time in the Combretaceae while bellericoside and asiatic acid are described for the first time in the genus Combretum. The structures of the isolated compounds have been established on the basis of spectral techniques (1D-, 2D-NMR and MS). Their in vitro antifungal activities against standard strains of Candida albicans, C. krusei and Cryptococcus neoformans were also evaluated in this work.

Manuscript ID: molecules-triterp-20080922-es-Martin
Type of Paper: Article
Title: Clavaric acid and fasciculic acid: Biosynthesis and Molecular Genetics
Authors: Juan F. Mart�n 1,2 and Ramiro P. Godio 2
1 �rea de Microbiolog�a, Facultad de Ciencias Biol�gicas y Ambientales, Universidad de Le�n, Campus de Vegazana, s/n. 24071 Le�n, Spain
2 Instituto de Biotecnolog�a de Le�n (INBIOTEC), Avda. Real, 1. 24006 Le�n, Spain
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Clavaric acid is a potent antitumor agent produced by the mushroom-forming basidiomycete Hypholoma sublateritium. Clavaric acid is structurally similar to fasciculic acid, a related triterpenoid produced by Hypholoma fasciculare that is described as a calmodulin inhibitor.
These two compounds are derived from squalene by the action of enzymes that convert squalene to 2,3-dioxidesqualene and this intermediate to clavarinone, a direct precursor of clavaric acid or fasciculic acid. One of these enzymes, the squalene oxidase, is common for primary metabolism (ergosterol biosynthesis) and secondary metabolism, whereas the late enzymatic steps are specific for the biosynthesis of clavaric acid and fasciculic acid. Molecular genetics studies allowed us to clone and characterise the genes encoding these enzymes. These studies have provided a considerable insight into the biosynthesis of triterpenoids in fungi, providing new potent pharmacologically-active compounds. Squalene epoxidases and oxidosqualene cyclases with modified consensus motifs in their active centers appear to play an important role in determining the oxidation and modification reactions that may result in specific secondary metabolites.

Published Papers:

Leading Papers (most of these are review papers):
  1. Mazumder, S.; Lerouge, P.; Loutelier-Bourhis, C.; Driouich, A.; Ray, B. Structural characterisation of hemicellulosic triterpenes from Benincasa hispida using specific enzyme hydrolysis, ion exchange chromatography and MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. Carbohydr. Polym. 2005, 59, 231–238.
  2. Xu, H.; Zhang, Y.Y.; Zhang, J.W.; Chen, D.F.. Int. J. Immunopharmacol. 2007, 7, 175–182.
  3. Omarsdottir, S.; Petersen, B.O.; Paulsen, B.S.; Togola, A.; Duusb, J.; Olafsdottir, E.S. Carbohydr. Res. 2006, 341, 2449–2455.
  4. Jia, L.M.; Liu, L.; Dong, Q.; Fang, J.N.. Carbohydr. Res. 2004, 339, 2667-2671.
  5. Ga, O.G.de; Martıneza, M.; Sanabria, L.; Pinto, G.L.de; Igartuburu, J.M.. Food Hydrocol. 2005, 19, 37–43.
  6. Reis, R.A.; Tischer, C.A.; Gorin, P.A.J.; Iacomini, M.. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 2002, 210, 1-5.
  7. Yang, J.H.; Du, Y.M.; Huang, R.H.; Wan, Y.Y.; Li, T.Y.. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 2002, 31, 55-62.
  8. Barton, C.J.; Tailford, L.E.; Welchman, H.; Zhang, Z.; Gilbert, H.J.; Dupree, P.; Goubet, F.. Planta 2006, 224, 163–174.
  9. Wang, Q.J.; Fang, Y.Z.. J. Chromatogr. B 2004, 812, 309–324.
  10. Zhang, M.; Cui, S.W.; Cheung, P.C.K.; Wang, Q.. Trends Food Sci. Tech. 2007, 18, 4-19.
  11. Volpi, N.; Maccari, F.. J. Chromatogr. B  2006, 834, 1–13.
  12. Paulsen, B.S.; Olafsdottir, E.S.; Ingolfsdottir, K.. J. Chromatogr. A  2002, 967, 163–171.
  13. Lo, T.C.T.; Jiang, Y.H.; Chao, A.L.J.; Chang, C.A.. Anal. Chimica. Acta 2007, 584,  50–56.
  14. Ban, E.; Choi, O.; Ryu, J.; Yoo, Y.S.. Electrophoresis 2001, 22, 2217–2221.
  15. Hui,C.W.; Di, X.. J. Chromatogr. B 2004, 812, 241–257.
  16. Li, S.P.; Zhang, G.H.; Zeng, Q.; Huang, Z.G.; Wang, Y.T.; Dong, T.T.X.; Tsim, K.W.K.. Phytomedicine 2006, 13, 428-433.
  17. Lin, Z.B.; Zhang, H.N.. Acta. Pharmacol. Sin. 2004, 25, 1387-1395.
  18. Schepetkin, I.A.; Quinn, M.T.. Int. J. Immunopharmacol. 2006, 6, 317– 333.
  19. Chen, J.R.; Hu, T.J.; Zheng, R.L.. Int. J. Immunopharmacol. 2007, 7, 547–553.
  20. Lin, Y.L.; Zhang, L.N.; Chen, L.; Jin, Y.; Zeng, F.B.; Jin, J.; Wan, B.; Cheung, P.C.K.. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 2004, 34, 231–236.
Manuscripts should be prepared according to the Instructions for Authors and submitted before 30 June 2009
by e-mail to [email protected] and a copy to [email protected] and [email protected]. The subject title of the message should be
"Manuscript for Special Issue on Triterpenes".
 
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