Table 1.
Pharmaceutical activities of common terpenoids produced by biotechnological means.
| Classification of Terpene | Terpene Name | Pharmaceutical Function | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monoterpene | Perillyl alcohol | Anticancer | [3] |
| Geraniol | Anticancer | ||
| D-limonene | Anticancer, transdermal absorption of drugs | ||
| Menthol | Antimicrobial, transdermal absorption of drugs | ||
| Sabinene | Antimicrobial | ||
| Sesquiterpene | Artemisinin and its derivatives | Antimalarial, anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral activities and hypoglycemic effect | [3,32] |
| Patchoulol | Antibacterial activity | ||
| Diterpene | Paclitaxel | Anti-ovarian, breast, colorectal, head and neck cancers, small-cell and non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), and treatment of AIDS | [3,8,14,33] |
| Meroterpene | Cannabinoids | Treatment of pain relieving conditions (in cancer chemotherapy, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis) | [8,34] |
| Triterpene | Ginsenosides | Anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotection, anti-diabetic (hypoglycemic activity) and anti-tumor | [3,35,36] |
| Betulinic acid and its derivatives | Anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial and anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) | [37,38] |