Natural Triterpenoids from Olive Oil: Potential Activities Against Cancer

Abstract

Triterpenoids are compounds extensively distributed in numerous plants used in traditional medicine. Olive oil and specially pomace olive oil are important sources of pentacyclic triterpenoids such as oleanolic acid and maslinic acid. Because of their ability to interfere at different signalling pathways, triterpenoids from olives seem to be promising therapeutic strategies in terms of cancer and cell proliferation, cardiovascular complications, inflammation, and hepatotoxicity. Recently, an intensive research has been focused on the anti-cancer properties exhibited by olive oil triterpenoids, particularly effective against experimental colon and brain cancer. Although the exact mechanisms by which these triterpenoids induce the anti-tumor effects are not fully understood, recent investigations have provided evidence about their effect at different stages of carcinogenesis including: pro-apoptotic activity via the mitochondrial pathway (e.g.: Bax activation, caspase-3 activation), cell cycle arrest, modulation of mitochondrial ROS production, anti-angiogenesis and protective effects on inflammation related to cancer. Different approaches are in progress in order to improve bioavailability of these triterpenic compounds, thus making them more suitable for animal studies and clinical trials. Therefore, pentacyclic triterpenoids from olives and olive oil show a promising pharmacological profile that may provide future pharmaceutical development and clinical investigations against chronic diseases such as cancer.