Triterpenen

Triterpenen (triterpenes) are a class of naturally occurring organic compounds built from six isoprene units, yielding a C30 backbone. They occur widely in plants, fungi and some animals and form the biochemical precursors of sterols and steroidal compounds. Biosynthesis proceeds mainly via the mevalonate pathway: two molecules of farnesyl pyrophosphate condense to form squalene, which is then oxidized to 2,3-oxidosqualene and cyclized by specific oxidosqualene cyclases to give diverse carbon skeletons.

Triterpenes are structurally diverse and are commonly grouped by their ring systems. Tetracyclic triterpenes give rise to sterols such as lanosterol and cycloartenol, while pentacyclic triterpenes include oleanane, ursane and lupane types (examples: oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, lupeol, β-amyrin). Oxidized and modified derivatives are referred to as triterpenoids and often carry functional groups that influence bioactivity.

Biological roles include membrane structure (sterols), regulation and signaling, and ecological defense against herbivores and pathogens. Many triterpenes exhibit pharmacologically interesting properties—anti-inflammatory, antiviral, hepatoprotective and anticancer activities have been reported—leading to research into nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.

Triterpenes are studied and characterized using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques such as HPLC, GC–MS and NMR. They are important both as target compounds in natural product chemistry and as industrial feedstocks or precursors in steroid synthesis and cosmetic formulations.