Since the 1980s, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (also known as AIDS, ads) and cancer have become two important diseases threatening human health, and the number of patients is increasing year by year. At present, there are toxic and side effects and drug resistance problems in the clinical application of AIDS and cancer drugs. Therefore, the research and development of anti HIV and anti-tumor drugs with high pharmacological activity, small adverse reactions and good curative effect has become a hot spot. Betulin and betulinic acid belong to lupane type triterpenoids, which exist widely in nature, but the most abundant natural resource is Betula platyphylla. In recent years, scientific research has found that betulin alcohol and betulinic acid are very valuable natural products. Betulin, betulinic acid and their derivatives, as biological agents, have shown great potential in anti HIV and cancer treatment, and show different mechanisms of action from previous drugs. Therefore, the research on betulin, betulinic acid and their derivatives has become the research hotspot of natural organic drugs in recent years. In China, Betula platyphylla is widely distributed and rich in plant resources, but there is little research and development. The study of Betula platyphylla resources is of great significance for the development of resources and the research of natural drugs in China.
BetulinBetulinic acid and its derivatives have great potential in the treatment of HIV and cancer as biological agents. The anti HIV-1 activity of betulinic acid and its derivatives is the lowest molecular weight among the available inhibitors. Interestingly, different derivatives exhibit different activities against HIV-1. At the same time, betulinic acid and its derivatives will become an important molecular tool to track HIV infection and play a role in the biochemical process.
Malignant tumor is a serious threat to human health. Its mortality ranks second in all diseases, second only to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Natural anti-tumor drugs camptothecin, podophyllotoxin, vinblastine, taxol and some of their derivatives are part of the most important cancer therapeutic drugs. They can trigger apoptosis by acting on different subcellular targets and activating unique signal channels. However, in the long-term application of anticancer drugs, there are also some problems such as toxic side effects and drug resistance. Therefore, it is an urgent task for pharmaceutical workers to develop new anti-tumor drugs.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is caused by human immunodeficiency virus infection. An infectious disease characterized by severe damage to the systemic immune system. For a long time, scientists have been committed to the research of anti HIV drugs. At present, 14 compounds have been used in the treatment of HIV infection, but these drugs have gradually exposed many limitations in clinical application, especially toxic side effects and drug resistance. At present, the development of new anti HIV drugs mainly focuses on the discovery of various compounds with new structures and emerging mechanisms of action.
The birch bark and birch juice of white birch have the effects of clearing away heat and dampness, relieving cough and removing phlegm. It has been found that betulinic acid is an extremely important active component of the bark of Betula platyphylla since 1995Betulinic acidSince the anti melanoma activity of betulinic acid, it has been found that betulinic acid has the same pharmacological activity on other tumors, such as neuroendodermal brain tumors and gliomas, and is low toxic or non-toxic. It also shows high activity in anti HIV-1 infection. Betulin and betulinic acid have the same pentacyclic triterpenoid skeleton, and show different mechanisms of action from previous drugs.