Maslinic Acid is a pentacyclic triterpene with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies indicate that Maslinic Acid blocks the generation of nitric oxide, and inhibits the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α induced by lipopolysaccharides. Maslinic Acid is described to have antiproliferative and anti-HIV properties. In addition, Maslinic Acid is suggested to have a neuroprotective affect by amplifying the expression of astrocytic glutamate transporters and regulating the extracellular glutamate concentration. Research also indicates that Maslinic Acid inhibits the NF-Kβ signaling pathway and increases the affect of TNF-α induced apoptosis.
Maslinic acid is found in a number of natural sources, most notably pomace olive oil (orujo). This pentacyclic triterpene has an antiproliferative agent against Caco-2 cancer cells (EC50 = 15 µM), HT-29 human colon cancer cells (EC50 = 74 µM), 1321N1 astrocytoma cells (IC50 = 25 µM), and human leukemia (CCRF-CEM and CEM/ADR5000) cells (IC50 = 7 µM and 9 µM respectively).1,2,3,4 Maslinic acid • s antiproliferative activity likely comes from the induction of an oxidative apoptotic pathway, causing cell cycle and cytoskeleton alterations. Maslinic acid has been found to attenuate intracellular oxidative stress via inhibition of NO and H2O2 production and reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine generation in murine macrophages.5 Recently maslinic acid has been found to inhibit the spread of the HIV virus by inhibiting the replication of a primary HIV-1 isolate as well as decreased the cytopathic effect and p24 antigen levels in MT2 cells.6.
