research on maslinic acid was based on both in vivo and vitro studies on maslinic acid itself and other triterpenoids similar in structure
see studies below...
Stanley CK Cheung, Li-zhong Liu. Glucose lowering effect of transgenic
human insulin-like growth factor-I from rice: in vitro and in vivo studies.
BMC Biotechnol. 2011; 11: 37.
Fernández-Navarro, M., Peragón, J. Maslinic acid as a feed additive to
stimulate growth and hepatic protein-turnover rates in rainbow trout
(Oncorhynchus mykiss). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 2006. C 144, 130–140.
Mónica Fernández-Navarro a, Juan Peragón. Maslinic acid added to the
diet increases growth and protein-turnover rates in the white muscle of
rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Comparative Biochemistry and
Physiology, Part C 147 (2008) 158–167.
Mónica Fernández-Navarro, Juan Peragón. Maslinic Acid: A Component
of Olive Oil on Growth and Protein-turnover Rates. Olives and Olive Oil in
Health and Disease Prevention. Chapter 157. ISBN: 978-0-12-374420-3.
Henke BR, Sparks SM. Glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors. Mini
Rev Med Chem 6:845–857. 2006.
Jun Liu, Rajkumar Rajendram. Effects of Oleanolic Acid and Maslinic
Acid on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism: Implications for the Beneficial
Effects of Olive Oil on Health. Olives and Olive Oil in Health and Disease
Prevention. Chapter 158. ISBN: 978-0-12-374420-3.
Wen, X., Sun, H., Liu, J., Wu, G., Zhang, L., Wu, X., Ni, P., 2005.
Pentacyclic triterpenes. Part 1: The first examples of naturally occurring
pentacyclic triterpenes as a new class of inhibitors of glycogen
phosphorylases. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett.15 (22), 4944–4948.
Liu F, Schafer DP, McCullough LD. 2009. TTC, fluoro-Jade B and NeuN
staining confirm evolving phases of infarction induced by middle cerebral
artery occlusion. J Neurosci Methods 179:1–8.
Liu J, Sun H, Duan W, Mu D, Zhang L. 2007. Maslinic acid reduces
blood glucose in KK-Ay mice. Biol Pharm Bull 30:2075–2078.
Wen X, Sun H, Liu J, Cheng K, Zhang P, Zhang L, Hao J, Ni P,
Zographos SE, Leonidas DD, Alexacou KM, Gimisis T, Hayes JM,
Oikonomakos NG. 2008. Naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenes as
inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase: synthesis, structure–activity
relationships, and X-ray crystallographic studies. J Med Chem 51:3540–
3554.
Qian Y, Guan T, Tang X, Huang L, Huang M, Li Y, Sun H, Yu R, Zhang F.
2011. Astrocytic glutamate transporter-dependent neuroprotection against
glutamate toxicity: an in vitro study of maslinic acid. Eur J Pharmacol
651:59–65.
Teng Guan, Yisong Qian. Maslinic Acid, a Natural Inhibitor of Glycogen
Phosphorylase, Reduces Cerebral Ischemic Injury in Hyperglycemic Rats
by GLT-1 Up-Regulation. Journal of Neuroscience Research
89:1829–1839 (2011)
Insulin-like growth factor-I: potential for treatment of motor neuronal
disorders. Lewis ME, Neff NT, Contreras PC, Stong DB, Oppenheim RW,
Grebow PE, Vaught JL.SourceCephalon, Inc., West Chester, Pennsylvania