Description
Betulinic acid (472-15-1) is a natural Lupane triterpenoid from white birch tree (Betula pubescens). Induces apoptosis in a variety of cell lines.1 Induces mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening.2 ?Acts as a chemosensitizer for anticancer drug treatment in chemoresistant colon cancer cell lines.3 Cell permeable.
Chemical Properties
colorless Needles
Uses
Betulinic Acid is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid. Betulinic Acid displays anti-inflammatory and anti-HIV activity. Betulinic Acid selectively induces apoptosis in tumor cells by directly activati
ng the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis through a p53- and CD95-independent mechanism. Betulinic Acid also exhibits TGR5 agonist activity
Definition
ChEBI: A pentacyclic triterpenoid that is lupane having a double bond at position 20(29) as well as 3beta-hydroxy and 28-carboxy substituents. It is found in the bark and other plant parts of several species of plants including Syzygium cla
iflorum. It exhibits anti-HIV, antimalarial, antineoplastic and anti-inflammatory properties.
General Description
Betulinic acid is a lupane-type triterpene, which can be prepared from betulin via oxidation using chromium oxide (VI). Along with anti-HIV-1 and anti-tumor activity, it also shows other bioactivities such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, in vitro antimalarial, anthelmintic and antioxidant activities.
Biological Activity
Natural triterpenoid that displays anti-HIV and antitumor activity. Induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activates NF- κ B. Exhibits TRG5 agonist activity (EC 50 = 1.04 μ M).
Biochem/physiol Actions
Betulinic acid, a pentacyclic triterpene, selectively induces apoptosis in tumor cells by directly activating the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis through a p53- and CD95-independent mechanism.
Anticancer Research
This compound is a pentacyclic triterpene obtained from Betula and Zizyphus species,which shows selective cytotoxicity against human melanoma cells (Shoeb2006). It generates reactive oxygen species, activates MAPK cascade, inhibitstopoisomerase I, inhibits angiogenesis, modulates pro-growth transcriptionalactivators, modulates the activity of aminopeptidase-N, and thereby inducesapoptosis in cancer cells (Desai et al. 2008; Fulda 2008).
References
1) Ehrhardt et al. (2004) Betulinic acid-induced apoptosis in leukemia cells; Leukemia, 18 1406
2) Mullauer et al. (2009) Betulinic acid induces cytochrome c release and apoptosis in Bax/Bak-independent, permeability transition pore dependent fashion.; Apoptosis, 14 191
3) Jung et al. (2007) Effect of betulinic acid on anticancer drug-resistant colon cancer cells; Basic Clin. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 101 277
