Abstract

THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION OF DITERPENES: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS AND PROMISES

Md. Torequl Islam,* and Eunus S. Ali

ABSTRACT

Many routinely consumed products such as different vegetables, cooking oils, and some drinks (e.g., tea, coffee) are the common sources of diterpenes. A number of diterpenes have been found to have promising biological activities in non-/pre-and clinical study models. This mini-review aims to sketch a mechanistic intercession of diterpenes with their identified activities in various biological systems. Several recent findings suggest that the diterpenes and their derivatives are not only cytoprotective, in vivo but also a positive modulator of various biological activities. They, in higher concentration, are more cytotoxic rather than genotoxic and mutagenic in nature. Concentration dependency and the effects of diterpenes on body biomarkers, associated toxicity with the down-regulation of liver enzymes need to be carefully considered and titrated during further development of diterpenes as a potential drug candidate. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying therapeutic potentials of diterpenes as well as their future promises in drug development.

Keywords: diterpenes; mechanism of action; biological systems; therapeutic interventions.