Insights into the Recent Breakthroughs in Nanotechnological Outlook of Pentacyclic Triterpenoids: An Updated Approach

Pentacyclic triterpenes have attracted significant scientific interest due to their notable biological activities against inflammation, cancer, liver diseases, oxidative stress, and bacterial infections. They are commonly found in fruits and vegetables and are marketed globally as nutritional supplements. Examples of pentacyclic triterpenoids include ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, boswellic acid, lupeol, betulinic acid, maslinic acid, and asiatic acid. The low water solubility, poor permeability, and limited bioavailability of pentacyclic triterpenoids hinder their therapeutic potential. The development of nanoformulations has the potential to address these limitations by facilitating effective distribution and improving therapeutic efficacy. This review provides a thorough discussion of the sources, biological activities, and mechanisms of action of pentacyclic triterpenoids. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of their integration with nanotechnological systems, including solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, polymeric micelles, silver nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, chitosan nanoparticles, and nanostructured lipid carriers. The databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect were carefully examined for relevant information. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2025. Review and research articles containing adequate scientific detail were included, while documents written in languages other than English were excluded. Published patents related to nanoformulations of pentacyclic triterpenoids are also briefly summarized. The clinical applications of pentacyclic triterpenoids currently in various clinical phases are outlined as well.