By definition triterpenes are hydrocarbons and possess no heteroatoms, functionalized triterpenes should instead be called triterpenoids; however this distinction is not always adhered to in scientific literature, with the two terms often being used interchangeably.
Functionalized triterpenes should instead be called triterpenoids. Definition triterpenes are hydrocarbons. Definition triterpenes possess no heteroatoms. However this distinction is not always adhered to in scientific literature. This was with the two terms. These two terms are often being used interchangeably.