Ursolic Acid’s Alluring Journey: One Triterpenoid vs. Cancer Hallmarks
Cancer is a multifactorial disease characterized by various hallmarks, including uncontrolled cell growth, evasion of apoptosis, sustained angiogenesis, tissue invasion, and metastasis, among others. Traditional cancer therapies often target specific hallmarks, leading to limited efficacy and the de...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/23/7897 |
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| author | Youness Limami Aline Pinon Hicham Wahnou Mounia Oudghiri Bertrand Liagre Alain Simon Raphaël Emmanuel Duval |
| author_facet | Youness Limami Aline Pinon Hicham Wahnou Mounia Oudghiri Bertrand Liagre Alain Simon Raphaël Emmanuel Duval |
| author_sort | Youness Limami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cancer is a multifactorial disease characterized by various hallmarks, including uncontrolled cell growth, evasion of apoptosis, sustained angiogenesis, tissue invasion, and metastasis, among others. Traditional cancer therapies often target specific hallmarks, leading to limited efficacy and the development of resistance. Thus, there is a growing need for alternative strategies that can address multiple hallmarks concomitantly. Ursolic acid (UA), a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid, has recently emerged as a promising candidate for multitargeted cancer therapy. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the anticancer properties of UA, focusing on its ability to modulate various cancer hallmarks. The literature reveals that UA exhibits potent anticancer effects through diverse mechanisms, including the inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, suppression of angiogenesis, inhibition of metastasis, and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, UA has demonstrated promising activity against different cancer types (e.g., breast, lung, prostate, colon, and liver) by targeting various cancer hallmarks. This review discusses the molecular targets and signaling pathways involved in the anticancer effects of UA. Notably, UA has been found to modulate key signaling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt, MAPK/ERK, NF-κB, and Wnt/β-catenin, which play crucial roles in cancer development and progression. Moreover, the ability of UA to destroy cancer cells through various mechanisms (e.g., apoptosis, autophagy, inhibiting cell growth, dysregulating cancer cell metabolism, etc.) contributes to its multitargeted effects on cancer hallmarks. Despite promising anticancer effects, this review acknowledges hurdles related to UA’s low bioavailability, emphasizing the need for enhanced therapeutic strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:46:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a7f029d5fb524853853af2533fbe0bf8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:46:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-a7f029d5fb524853853af2533fbe0bf82023-12-08T15:22:40ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492023-12-012823789710.3390/molecules28237897Ursolic Acid’s Alluring Journey: One Triterpenoid vs. Cancer HallmarksYouness Limami0Aline Pinon1Hicham Wahnou2Mounia Oudghiri3Bertrand Liagre4Alain Simon5Raphaël Emmanuel Duval6Laboratory of Health Sciences and Technologies, Higher Institute of Health Sciences, Hassan First University of Settat, Settat 26000, MoroccoUniv. Limoges, LABCiS, UR 22722, F-87000 Limoges, FranceLaboratory of Immunology and Biodiversity, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Hassan II University, B.P. 2693, Maarif, Casablanca 20100, MoroccoLaboratory of Immunology and Biodiversity, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Hassan II University, B.P. 2693, Maarif, Casablanca 20100, MoroccoUniv. Limoges, LABCiS, UR 22722, F-87000 Limoges, FranceUniv. Limoges, LABCiS, UR 22722, F-87000 Limoges, FranceUniversité de Lorraine, CNRS, L2CM, F-54000 Nancy, FranceCancer is a multifactorial disease characterized by various hallmarks, including uncontrolled cell growth, evasion of apoptosis, sustained angiogenesis, tissue invasion, and metastasis, among others. Traditional cancer therapies often target specific hallmarks, leading to limited efficacy and the development of resistance. Thus, there is a growing need for alternative strategies that can address multiple hallmarks concomitantly. Ursolic acid (UA), a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid, has recently emerged as a promising candidate for multitargeted cancer therapy. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the anticancer properties of UA, focusing on its ability to modulate various cancer hallmarks. The literature reveals that UA exhibits potent anticancer effects through diverse mechanisms, including the inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, suppression of angiogenesis, inhibition of metastasis, and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, UA has demonstrated promising activity against different cancer types (e.g., breast, lung, prostate, colon, and liver) by targeting various cancer hallmarks. This review discusses the molecular targets and signaling pathways involved in the anticancer effects of UA. Notably, UA has been found to modulate key signaling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt, MAPK/ERK, NF-κB, and Wnt/β-catenin, which play crucial roles in cancer development and progression. Moreover, the ability of UA to destroy cancer cells through various mechanisms (e.g., apoptosis, autophagy, inhibiting cell growth, dysregulating cancer cell metabolism, etc.) contributes to its multitargeted effects on cancer hallmarks. Despite promising anticancer effects, this review acknowledges hurdles related to UA’s low bioavailability, emphasizing the need for enhanced therapeutic strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/23/7897ursolic acidcancer hallmarkscell growthapoptosisangiogenesissignaling pathways |
| spellingShingle | Youness Limami Aline Pinon Hicham Wahnou Mounia Oudghiri Bertrand Liagre Alain Simon Raphaël Emmanuel Duval Ursolic Acid’s Alluring Journey: One Triterpenoid vs. Cancer Hallmarks Molecules ursolic acid cancer hallmarks cell growth apoptosis angiogenesis signaling pathways |
| title | Ursolic Acid’s Alluring Journey: One Triterpenoid vs. Cancer Hallmarks |
| title_full | Ursolic Acid’s Alluring Journey: One Triterpenoid vs. Cancer Hallmarks |
| title_fullStr | Ursolic Acid’s Alluring Journey: One Triterpenoid vs. Cancer Hallmarks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ursolic Acid’s Alluring Journey: One Triterpenoid vs. Cancer Hallmarks |
| title_short | Ursolic Acid’s Alluring Journey: One Triterpenoid vs. Cancer Hallmarks |
| title_sort | ursolic acid s alluring journey one triterpenoid vs cancer hallmarks |
| topic | ursolic acid cancer hallmarks cell growth apoptosis angiogenesis signaling pathways |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/23/7897 |
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