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The effects of terpenes on metabolism: a comprehensive review on recent updates

Papada, Efstathia; (2025) The effects of terpenes on metabolism: a comprehensive review on recent updates. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care 10.1097/MCO.0000000000001129. (In press). Green open access

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Abstract

Purpose of review : There is a growing interest in plant-derived natural products as alternative means to manage chronic diseases. Terpenes represent a category of phytochemicals with several favourable effects including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The aim of this review is to explore the current understanding of how terpenes influence metabolism including glucose, lipid and amino acid and to discuss implications of these effects. // Recent findings : Although most of the scientific evidence is derived from in vitro and animal studies, the effects of terpenes on metabolism have been also evaluated in limited human studies. In regard to the effects of terpenes on glucose metabolism they seem to interact with insulin signalling pathways, increase glucose uptake, inhibit enzymes and regulate the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. Similarly, terpenes may contribute to modulation of key enzymes and genes involved in lipid metabolism. Their effects on amino acids metabolism are not well understood but it seems that some terpenes can modulate amino acid levels in the plasma, potentially influencing metabolic pathways related to protein synthesis, gene expression, and intracellular protein turnover. // Summary : These effects can have significant implications for the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as cancer, which is characterised by metabolic reprogramming. However, large-scale human studies are needed to conclude on terpenes effectiveness, safety and suitable dosage for favourable effects.

Type: Article
Title: The effects of terpenes on metabolism: a comprehensive review on recent updates
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1097/MCO.0000000000001129
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1097/mco.0000000000001129
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright © 2025, Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons CC BY license, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. You are not required to obtain permission to reuse this article. If an article is Open Access and published under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) permission for reuse is not required. Before requesting permission, be sure to check the Copyright status of the source material and review which Creative Commons License applies to the publication, if any.
Keywords: Diabetes, metabolism, plant-derived compounds, regulation, terpenes
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10208343
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