Abstract
Promising research over the past decades has shown that some types of pentacyclic triterpenes (PTs) are associated with the prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D), especially those found in foods. The most abundant edible sources of PTs are those belonging to the ursane and oleanane scaffold. The principal finding is that Cecropia telenitida contains abundant oleanane and ursane PT types with similar oxygenation patterns to those found in food matrices. We studied the compositional profile of a rich PT fraction (DE16-R) and carried out a viability test over different cell lines. The biosynthetic pathway connected to the isolated PTs in C. telenitida offers a specific medicinal benefit related to the modulation of T2D. This current study suggests that this plant can assemble isobaric, positional isomers or epimeric PT. Ursane or oleanane scaffolds with the same oxygenation pattern are always shared by the PTs in C. telenitida, as demonstrated by its biosynthetic pathway. Local communities have long used this plant in traditional medicine, and humans have consumed ursane and oleanane PTs in fruits since ancient times, two key points we believe useful in considering the medicinal benefits of C. telenitida and explaining how a group of molecules sharing a closely related scaffold can express effectiveness.
Highlights
Research reports from the past two decades highlight triterpenes’ potential role in the prevention and eventual treatment of type 2 diabetes
We have shown that Cecropia telenitida can assemble isobaric, positional isomers or epimeric pentacyclic triterpenes
Ursane or oleanane scaffolds with the same oxygenation pattern are always shared by the pentacyclic triterpenes (PTs) in C. telenitida, as demonstrated by its biosynthetic pathway
Summary
Research reports from the past two decades highlight triterpenes’ potential role in the prevention and eventual treatment of type 2 diabetes. There is a plethora of research describing the potential of PTs in treating prediabetes and diabetes. The authors describe 22 molecular targets of glucose and lipid metabolism modulated by PTs such as oleanolic, ursolic, betulinic, and asiatic acids [2]. Other PTs like corosolic, maslinic, arjunolic, hederagenic, serjanic, and tormentic acids are reported to decrease glucose levels, increase insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity, or reduce inflammatory adipokines in adipose tissue [3,4,5,6]. In overlooking the properties of PTs, the global health system potentially risks missing a consistent, efficacious, but most importantly, affordable preventative treatment for one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide
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