Résumé
Nor-ursane triterpenes are formed by the reduction of one or several methyl groups on the ursane triterpene carbon skeleton. According to the position of vacant methyl, they can be divided into eight types, including 23-nor, 24-nor, 28-nor, 29-nor, 30-nor, 2-nor, 3-nor, and 3,24-nor. Moreover, nor-ursane triterpenes have several pharmacological effects such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, inhibition of acyl cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT) and so on. In this study, more than 30 relevant literatures of nor-ursane triterpenoid compounds at home and abroad were reviewed. The plant distribution, pharmacological activity and structural characteristics of nor-ursane triterpenes were studied. Therefore, this review may provide the basis for further study of this type of compound.