Maslinic acid is a compound derived from dry olive-pomace oil (an olive skin wax) which is a byproduct of olive oil extraction. It is a member of the group of triterpenes known as oleananes.

Occurrence

Maslinic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene occur naturally in many herbs and plant foods. It is found in the protective wax-like coating of the leaves and fruit of Olea europaea and is one of the ingredients in olive oil. 

Benefits of the olive oil triterpenes (oleanolic and maslinic acid) on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in addition to their bioavailability and disposition have been investigated in Phase 3 clinical trial in healthy participants. 

Uses

Maslinic acid is used in skin care products and dietary supplements. Maslinic acid exerts a wide range of biological activities including antitumor, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, neuroprotective and antimicrobial. In vitro anti-diabetic effects of maslinic acid are exhibited by increasing glycogen content and inhibiting glycogen phosphorylase activity in HepG2 cells. It was shown to induce the phosphorylation level of IRβ-subunit, Akt, and GSK3β with specific activation of Akt. In vivo maslinic acid treatment of mice fed with a high-fat diet reduced the model-associated adiposity and insulin resistance, and increased the accumulated hepatic glycogen content. 

In hyperglycemia mice, the elevation of blood glucose level caused by adrenaline or glucose was antagonized by maslinic acid significantly. Diabetic rats pretreated with high-dose maslinic acid had lower blood glucose levels, reduced infarct volumes and improved neurological scores. Less glutamate overflow was also observed in maslinic acid -treated rats after 2 hours of ischemia followed by 24 and 72 hours of reperfusion. In addition, maslinic acid treatment enhanced the glial glutamate transporter GLT-1 expression at the protein and mRNA levels.