In order to determine whether triterpenoids have anticancer activities, we initially studied the tumor-cell differentiating
activity by using F9 teratocarcinoma stem cells as a model system. The triterpene acids, ursolic
acid (UA) and oleanolic acid (OA), brought about a morphological alteration of F9 stem cells into the
differentiated state. This strikingly resembles the differentiation of parieral endoderm-like cells by retinoic acid.
These results present the possibility that F9 stem cells were induced to differentiate by these agents. Moreover,
UA and OA inhibited embryogenic angiogenesis on the chick embryo CAMs. In addition, UA has an inhibitory
effect on the invasive activity of the HT1080 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, we
suggest that triterpenoids including UA and OA have various anticancer activities-such as the induction of tumor
cell differentiation, antiangiogenic activity, and anti-invasive activity.

Keywords: Anti-invasive activity, Triterpenoid