Antiurolithiatic effects of pentacyclic triterpenes: The distance traveled from therapeutic aspects

Abstract

Globally, approximately 12% of the population is inflicted by various types of urolithiasis. Standard treatments are available both to avert and treat urolithiasis, but with significant adverse side effects. Pentacyclic triterpenes represent a group of naturally occurring compounds which holds immense potential as therapeutic for treating kidney stone. This review aims to provide an integrative description on how pentacyclic triterpenes can effectively treat calcium oxalate urolithiasis through various mechanisms such as antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, diuretic, and angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibition. Some of the pentacylic triterpenes which shows promising activities include lupeol, oleanolic acid, betulin, and taraxasterol. Moreover, future perspectives in the development of pentacyclic triterpenes in formulations/drugs for urinary stone prevention are highlighted. It is anticipated that compiled information would serve as a scientific baseline to advocate further investigations on the potential of pentacyclic triterpenes in urolithiasis remediation.

Plants Used in Mexican Traditional Medicine for the Management of Urolithiasis: A Review of Preclinical Evidence, Bioactive Compounds, and Molecular Mechanisms

“…Citrate is a compound that can inhibit crystal deposition and growth in renal tissue [ 74 , 75 , 76 ]. Additionally, these types of compounds stimulate the relaxation of the smooth muscle of the urothelium, which promotes a decrease in their size and facilitates expulsion of the urinary stones [ 77 ].…”

The Genus Alternanthera: Phytochemical and Ethnopharmacological Perspectives

“…as lithotriptic agent. Phytomolecules like Kaempferol and kaempferol analogs ( Cechinel-Zanchett et al, 2020 ), Quercetin and quercetin analogs ( Dinnimath et al, 2017 ), Stigmasterol ( Lobine et al, 2020 ), and Ferulic acid ( Zhao et al, 2019 ) which were previously been reported from Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R.Br. ex DC., may be responsible for this antiurolithiatic activity.…”

Recent Advances Regarding the Molecular Mechanisms of Triterpenic Acids: A Review (Part I)

“…It has become very clear that, considering their very large plethora of biologic effects, triterpenic acids presumably act on multiple pathways; indeed, there are many reviews published in the past 10 years regarding their mechanism of action responsible for various activities, such as anticancer [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], immunomodulatory [ 23 , 24 ], antidiabetic [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ], anti-inflammatory [ 31 ], cardioprotective [ 32 ], antiurolithic [ 33 ], antiviral [ 34 ], and wound healing [ 35 , 36 ]. This review aims to summarize the most recent (last five years) discoveries on triterpenic acids’ mechanisms of action in order to provide scientists with exhaustive knowledge, which in turn might propel and diversify future studies.…”