General description

Maslinic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene compound first isolated from Crataegus oxyacantha L. It is primarily sourced from Olea europaea L. and can be found in the non-glyceride fraction of olive pomace.

Application

Maslinic acid has been used to study its antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects on human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines and endothelial cells, respectively. It has also been used as a reference standard to extract triterpenoic acids from olive pomace using the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Maslinic acid is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Other than being an excellent anti-cancer agent, it also displays anti-diabetic, and anti-parasitic properties. Maslinic acid exerts neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects. It has been reported to be a multi-targeted antimalarial drug against Plasmodium falciparum.

Predominant triterpenoid found in olives. Anti-proliferative. Promising chemopreventive agent.