Terpenoids

Forskolin (Coleonol) is a potent adenylate cyclase activator with an IC₅₀ of 41 nM and an EC₅₀ of 0.5 μM for type I adenylyl cyclase. Forskolin is also an inducer of intracellular cAMP formation. Forskolin induces differentiation of various cell types and activates pregnane X receptor (PXR) and FXR. Forskolin exerts a inotropic effect on the heart, and has platelet antiaggregatory and antihypertensive actions. Forskolin also induces autophagy.

Paclitaxel is a naturally occurring antineoplastic agent and stabilizes tubulin polymerization. Paclitaxel can cause both mitotic arrest and apoptotic cell death. Paclitaxel also induces autophagy.

Thapsigargin, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inducer, is an inhibitor of microsomal Ca²⁺-ATPase. Thapsigargin efficiently inhibits coronavirus (HCoV-229E, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2) replication in different cell types.

Docetaxel (RP-56976) is a microtubule depolymerization inhibitor, with an IC₅₀ of 0.2 μM. Docetaxel attenuates the effects of bcl-2 and bcl-xL gene expression. Docetaxel arrests the cell cycle at G2/M and leads to cell apoptosis. Docetaxel has anti-cancer activity.

Triptolide is a diterpenoid triepoxide extracted from the root of Tripterygium wilfordii with immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and antitumour effects. Triptolide is a NF-κB activation inhibitor.

All-trans-retinal is an vitamin A metabolite in the retina, and is produced following photo-isomerization of the visual chromophore 11-cis-Retinal. All-trans-retinal is cleared from photoreceptors by ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABCA4) and all-trans-retinol dehydrogenase (RDH). All-trans-retinal induces Bax activation via DNA damage to mediate retinal cell apoptosis.

Carnosic acid is an orally active lipid absorption inhibitor. Carnosic acid has demonstrated inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation, suppression of cell proliferation, and antibacterial activity.

Asiatic acid, a pentacyclic triterpene found in Centella asiatica (Centella asiatica), has anticancer activity. Asiatic acid induces apoptosis in melanoma cells and has barrier protective effects on human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC). Asiatic acid also has anti-inflammatory activity and inhibits tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction. Asiatic acid also inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation and NF-κB pathway, effectively inhibits inflammation in rats, and has neuroprotective effects in rat spinal cord injury (SCI) model.

Celastrol (Tripterine;Tripterin) is a proteasome inhibitor which potently and preferentially inhibits the chymotrypsin-like activity of a purified 20S proteasome with IC₅₀ of 2.5 μM. In addition, Celastrol is also an antibiotic with potent antimicrobial activity against standard and clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, inducing oxidative stress and inhibiting DNA synthesis by binding to P5CDH.

Glycyrrhizic acid is a triterpenoid saponinl, acting as a direct HMGB1 antagonist, with anti-tumor, anti-diabetic activities.

Artesunate is an inhibitor of both STAT-3 and exported protein 1 (EXP1).

Dihydroartemisinin is an orally active metabolite of rtemisinin (HY-B0094) and antimalarial agent. Dihydroartemisinin induces Autophagy by inhibiting NF-κB activation. Dihydroartemisinin promotes ROS accumulation. Dihydroartemisinin exhibits anticancer activity in esophageal cancer cells. Dihydroartemisinin shows schistosomicidal activity against juvenile and adult worms of Schistosoma japonicum, reduces worm burden, and displays antiparasitic activity. Dihydroartemisinin can be used in research related to multiple myeloma, promyelocytic leukemia, esophageal cancer, and Schistosoma japonicum infection.

Astragaloside IV, an active component isolated from Astragalus membranaceus, suppresses the activation of ERK1/2 and JNK, and downregulates matrix metalloproteases (MMP)-2, (MMP)-9 in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

Paeoniflorin is a heat shock protein-inducing compound and commonly exists in the plants of Paeoniaceae family, with various biological activities, including anticancer activity, anti-inflammatory activity, enhancing cognition and attenuating learning impairment, anti-oxidative stress, antiplatelet aggregation, expansion of blood vessels, and reducing blood viscosity.

Aphidicolin is an inhibitor of DNA polymerase α and δ, prevents mitotic cell division by interfering DNA polymerase activity. Aphidicolin is an antibiotic produced by mold Cephalosporium aphidicola, inhibits cellular deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and the growth of herpes simplex virus. Aphidicolin exhibits anti-orthopoxvirus activity and potentiates apoptosis induced by arabinosyl nucleosides in a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line.

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is one of the main compositions in the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. Tanshinone IIA may suppress angiogenesis by targeting the protein kinase domains of VEGF/VEGFR2.

Ursolic acid (Prunol) is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid carboxylic acid, exerts anti-tumor effects and is an effective compound for cancer prevention and therapy.

Pristane (Norphytane) is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon oil found in small quantities in many plants, in various marine organisms, and as the most active component of mineral oil. Pristane is a non-antigenic adjuvant, and induces MHC class II-restricted, arthritogenic T cells in the rat.

Oridonin (NSC-250682), a diterpenoid isolated from Rabdosia rubescens, acts as an inhibitor of AKT, with IC₅₀s of 8.4 and 8.9 μM for AKT1 and AKT2; Oridonin possesses anti-tumor, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.

Artemisinin (Qinghaosu), a sesquiterpene lactone, is an anti-malarial agent isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia annua L. plants. Artemisinin inhibits AKT signaling pathway by decreasing pAKT in a dose-dependent manner. Artemisinin reduces cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, tumorigenesis and metastasis and has neuroprotective effects.