Maslinic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene found in a variety of natural sources,\nranging from herbal remedies used in traditional Asian medicine to edible vegetables and\nfruits present in the Mediterranean diet. In recent years, several studies have proved that\nmaslinic acid exerts a wide range of biological activities, i.e. antitumor, antidiabetic,\nantioxidant, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antiparasitic and growth-stimulating.\nExperimental models used for the assessment of maslinic acid effects include established\ncell lines, which have been often used to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action,\nand also animal models of different disorders, which have confirmed the effects of the\ntriterpene in vivo. Overall, and supported by the lack of adverse effects in mice, the results\nprovide evidence of the potential of maslinic acid as a nutraceutical, not only for health\npromotion, but also as a therapeutic adjuvant in the treatment of several disorders.
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