Retinal diseases are a leading cause of impaired vision and blindness but some lack effective treatments. New therapies are required urgently to better manage retinal diseases. Natural pentacyclic triterpenoids and their derivatives have a wide range of activities, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, neuroprotective, and antiangiogenic properties. Pentacyclic triterpenoids have great potential in preventing and/or treating retinal pathologies. The pharmacological effects of pentacyclic triterpenoids are often mediated through the modulation of signalling pathways, including nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2, high-mobility group box protein 1, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, and Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-1. This review summarizes recent in vitro and in vivo evidence for the pharmacological potential of pentacyclic triterpenoids in the prevention and treatment of retinal diseases. The present literature supports the further development of pentacyclic triterpenoids. Future research should now attempt to improve the efficacy and pharmacokinetic behaviour of the agents, possibly by the use of medicinal chemistry and targeted drug delivery strategies.
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