Terpenoids as Natural Anti-Inflammatory Agents: A Review of their Biological Mechanisms

Abstract

Body’s Immune system biological response also known as inflammation and it is stimulated by varied factors such as pathogenic organisms, ruptured cells and toxic components. The given factors can initiate inflammatory reactions may be acute or chronic in many vital organs of the body and causing cellular damage. This damage in-turn gives rise to pathways of inflammatory signals associated with mediators of inflammation. Inflammation associated diseases are rapidly growing worldwide. The treatment use to suppress inflammatory reactions in the body is also linked with serious adverse effects. In the current decade use of phytochemicals is increased heavily across the globe being advantageous of lesser side effects and better potential in reducing inflammatory reactions. Phytochemicals are not essential nutrients required for sustaining life, but they possess significant properties that help prevent or fight certain common diseases. Terpenoids are a vast and structurally diverse group of natural secondary metabolites found in plants, derived from isoprene units (C-5), and linked to a variety of biological properties such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer. The present review highlights the pharmacological aspects of terpenoids with reference to suppression of inflammation. The work also emphasizes on role of terpenoids at molecular level to reduce the signalling pathways of inflammation with certain examples. In addition, future perspective on the use of terpenoids as therapeutic agents is also overviewed.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Phytochemicals; Terpenoids; Herbal Medicine