Pharmacological Review on Asiatic Acid and Its Derivatives: A Potential Compound

Abstract

Natural triterpenes represent a group of pharmacologically active and structurally diverse organic compounds. The focus on these phytochemicals has been enormous in the past few years, worldwide. Asiatic acid (AA), a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid, is found mainly in the traditional medicinal herb Centella asiatica. Triterpenoid saponins, which are the primary constituents of C. asiatica, are commonly believed to be responsible for their extensive therapeutic actions. Published research work has described the molecular mechanisms underlying the various biological activities of AA and its derivatives, which vary for each chronic disease. However, a compilation of the various pharmacological properties of AA has not yet been done. Herein, we describe in detail the pharmacological properties of AA and its derivatives that inhibit multiple pathways of intracellular signaling molecules and transcription factors that are involved in the various stages of chronic diseases. Furthermore, the pharmacological activities of AA were compared with two natural compounds: curcumin and resveratrol. This review summarizes the research on AA and its derivatives and helps to provide future directions in the area of drug development.

Malarial Pathophysiology and Phytochemical Interventions: A Current Discourse on Oxidative Stress Anti-Disease Phytotherapeutics

“…The molecular mechanisms underlying the various biological activities of AA have been described for malarial diseases as it is driven by OS. The pharmacological properties of AA and its derivatives inhibit multiple pathways of intracellular signaling molecules and transcription factors that are involved in the various stages of acute and chronic diseases [78]. The anti-inflammatory [79], antihyperlipidemia, malarial hypoglycaemia ameliorative effective [30], neuroprotective, reno-protective effects [80] and other activities of AA have an intricate and elaborate pattern, amongst the triterpenes, that is envisaged on the pleiotropic characteristics bed rocked on its anti-oxidative pro-oxidative properties and redox reactivity [81,82].…”

Effect and mechanism of asiatic acid on autophagy in myocardial ischemia‑reperfusion injury <em>in&nbsp;vivo</em> and <em>in&nbsp;vitro</em>

“…Asiatic acid (AA; C 30 H 48 O 5 ; Fig. 1A), which is chemically known as 2,3,23-trihydroxyurs-12-ene-28-oic-acid, is a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound extracted from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Centella Asiatica (17). Previously, numerous studies have demonstrated that AA possesses various pharmacological properties, including hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic and anticancer properties (18)(19)(20)(21)(22).…”

Asiatic acid attenuates hypertrophic and fibrotic differentiation of articular chondrocytes via AMPK/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

“…Asiatic acid (AA), a pentacyclic triterpene isolated from Centella asiatica [13], has been reported to exhibit a variety of pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective activities [14][15][16]. Particularly, recent studies demonstrate that AA inhibits cardiac hypertrophy [17] and liver fibrosis [18].…”