Prodrugs of triterpenoids and their derivatives.
Triterpenoids are structurally diverse organic compounds that exist widely as natural products. Triterpenoids and their derivatives possess a wide range of biological effects including hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and antitumor activities. In particular, the lupane-, oleanane-, and ursane-type triterpenes have been reported to exhibit pharmacological effects without prominent toxicity even at higher concentrations. Whereas, the poor drug-like properties (e.g., low solubility and selectivity, poor bioavailability, and short half-life) severely limit their applications. This review summarized the advances in prodrug strategies for improving the drug-like properties of different types of triterpenoids, and the information indicated in the review will surely stimulate further efforts toward the development of these compounds for potential clinical uses.
Engineering Research Center for the Development and Application of Ethnic Medicine and TCM, Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou, China; School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guian New District 550025, Guizhou, China; National Engineering Research Center of Miao's Medicines, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004 China.
Meng
M
Zhou
Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Research Center, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou, China.
Rong-Hong
RH
Zhang
Engineering Research Center for the Development and Application of Ethnic Medicine and TCM, Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou, China.
Min
M
Wang
Engineering Research Center for the Development and Application of Ethnic Medicine and TCM, Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou, China; School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guian New District 550025, Guizhou, China.
Guo-Bo
GB
Xu
Engineering Research Center for the Development and Application of Ethnic Medicine and TCM, Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou, China; School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guian New District 550025, Guizhou, China. Electronic address: lshangg@163.com.
Shang-Gao
SG
Liao
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
D011355:Prodrugs; D013729:Terpenes
Drug-like property; Prodrugs; Triterpenoids