Triterpenoids: Synthesis, Uses in Cancer Treatment and other Biological Activities

Triterpenoids are widely distributed in both edible plants and ethnomedicinal plants; they can also be found in any animals and marine organisms. These compounds are structurally diverse and they are characterized by a backbone of 30 C modified in multiple ways that enables a formation of more than 20,000 members. In plants, triterpenoids are produced by acetate/mevalonate pathway wich is performed in the cytosol and endoplasmic reticulum compartments of the cell. Recently, triterpenoids have arised as a major group of secondary metabolites with important spectrum of pharmacological activities, incluiding anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, cardioprotective, hypolipidemic, antiatherosclerotic, immunoregulatory, anticancer, and also have a role in the prevention of cancer. Differents reports have described that triterpenoids inhibit multiple intracellular signals molecules and transcription factors. In addition, these molecules are involved in the regulation of tumor cell proliferation, transformation, survival, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, chemoresistance and radioresistance. Despite these important properties and the amaizing action mechanisms, drug development derived of triterpenoids continue to be hampered by low yield from herbal extraction, for this reason advances in the synthesis of biologically active triterpenoids are essential. The present chapter provides updates on anticancer activity of triterpenoids, their activities in health benefit, as well as the current situation of the triterpenoids synthesis.