Betulin

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

All authors of this article

Last updated on: 29.10.2020

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Synonym(s)

Birch Camphor

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DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

Widespread pentycyclic triterpene alcohol (see terpenes below) with lupane skeleton, which is also found in the bark of birch trees. It is a substance of purely vegetable origin. Betulin is responsible for the white colour of birch bark.

Spectrum of actionThis section has been translated automatically.

Independent international studies attribute antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and wound healing promoting effects to the active ingredient betulin. Betulinic acid is produced by oxidation of betulin. Betulinic acid is found in many plant species, especially in the bark of trees from the birch family, but also in the plane and ebony family. In experimental approaches, betulinic acid has an inhibitory effect on the growth of melanoma cells; it inhibits reverse transcriptase. Furthermore, betulinic acid has an antimycotic (dermatophyte) and anti plasmodic effect.

Trade namesThis section has been translated automatically.

Imlan® (available from Birken GmbH, Streiflingsweg 11, D-75223 Niefern-Öschelbronn).

Note(s)This section has been translated automatically.

On the basis of a birch cork dry extract containing betulin as the active ingredient and stabilizer, "Betulsion" is a solids-stabilized emulsion (Pickering emulsion), which owes its stability to a special fixation of the water droplets in the oleogel. A classical emulsifier is therefore not necessary (see below preparations - Imlan®).

LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.

  1. Drąg-Zalesińska M et al.(2017) Anticancer properties of ester derivatives of betulin in human metastatic melanoma cells (Me-45). Cancer Cell Int 17:4.
  2. Guo MY et al (2015) Betulin suppresses S. aureus-induced mammary gland inflammatory injury by regulating PPAR-γ in mice. Int Immunopharmacol. 29:824-831.
  3. Laavola M et al (2016) Betulin Derivatives Effectively Suppress Inflammation in Vitro and in Vivo. J Nat Prod 79:274-280.
  4. Laszczyk MN et al. (2009) Regenerative and anti-inflammatory effects of betulin emulsions in cases of impaired epidermal barrier function. Act. Dermatol 35: 1-5
  5. Li Y et al (2016) Betulin induces reactive oxygen species-dependent apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells. Arch Pharm Res 39:1257-1265.Pix betulina

  6. Viszwapriya D et al(2016) Betulin
    inhibits virulence and biofilm of Streptococcus pyogenes by suppressing ropB core regulon, sagA and dltA. Pathog Dis 74 PubMed PMID: 27596811.

Authors

Last updated on: 29.10.2020

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer