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Farzan M, Farzan M, Shahrani M, Navabi SP, Vardanjani HR, Amini-Khoei H, Shabani S. Neuroprotective properties of Betulin, Betulinic acid, and Ursolic acid as triterpenoids derivatives: a comprehensive review of mechanistic studies. Nutr Neurosci 2024; 27:223-240. [PMID: 36821092 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2023.2180865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive deficits are the main outcome of neurological disorders whose occurrence has risen over the past three decades. Although there are some pharmacologic approaches approved for managing neurological disorders, it remains largely ineffective. Hence, exploring novel nature-based nutraceuticals is a pressing need to alleviate the results of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Some triterpenoids and their derivates can be considered potential therapeutics against neurological disorders due to their neuroprotective and cognitive-improving effects. Betulin (B), betulinic acid (BA), and ursolic acid (UA) are pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds with a variety of biological activities, including antioxidative, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. This review focuses on the therapeutic efficacy and probable molecular mechanisms of triterpenoids in damage prevention to neurons and restoring cognition in neurodegenerative diseases. Considering few studies on this concept, the precise mechanisms that mediate the effect of these compounds in neurodegenerative disorders have remained unknown. The findings can provide sufficient information about the advantages of these compounds against neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahan Farzan
- Student Research Committee, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
- PhytoPharmacology Interest Group (PPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahour Farzan
- Student Research Committee, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
- Neuroscience Research Group (NRG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Shahrani
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Seyedeh Parisa Navabi
- Persian Gulf Physiology Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Hossien Rajabi Vardanjani
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Hossein Amini-Khoei
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Sahreh Shabani
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
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Adepoju FO, Duru KC, Li E, Kovaleva EG, Tsurkan MV. Pharmacological Potential of Betulin as a Multitarget Compound. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1105. [PMID: 37509141 PMCID: PMC10377123 DOI: 10.3390/biom13071105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Betulin is a natural triterpene, usually from birch bark, known for its potential wound-healing properties. Despite having a wide range of pharmacological targets, no studies have proposed betulin as a multitarget compound. Betulin has protective effects against cardiovascular and liver diseases, cancer, diabetes, oxidative stress, and inflammation. It reduces postprandial hyperglycemia by inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity, combats tumor cells by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting metastatic proteins, and modulates chronic inflammation by blocking the expression of proinflammatory cytokines via modulation of the NFκB and MAPKs pathways. Given its potential to influence diverse biological networks with high target specificity, it can be hypothesized that betulin may eventually become a new lead for drug development because it can modify a variety of pharmacological targets. The summarized research revealed that the diverse beneficial effects of betulin in various diseases can be attributed, at least in part, to its multitarget anti-inflammatory activity. This review focuses on the natural sources, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological activity of betulin, and the multi-target effects of betulin on signaling pathways such as MAPK, NF-κB, and Nrf2, which are important regulators of the response to oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feyisayo O Adepoju
- Department of Technology for Organic Synthesis, Chemical Technology Institute, Ural Federal University, Mira 19, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Kingsley C Duru
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8021, USA
| | - Erguang Li
- Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 22 Hankou Road, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Elena G Kovaleva
- Department of Technology for Organic Synthesis, Chemical Technology Institute, Ural Federal University, Mira 19, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
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Liu S, Liu H, Zhang L, Ma C, Abd El-Aty AM. Edible pentacyclic triterpenes: A review of their sources, bioactivities, bioavailability, self-assembly behavior, and emerging applications as functional delivery vehicles. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2022; 64:5203-5219. [PMID: 36476115 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2153238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Edible pentacyclic triterpenes (PTs) are a group of nutraceutical ingredients commonly distributed in human diets. Existing evidence has proven that they have various biological functions, including anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic activities, making them as "functional factor" for a long time. However, their properties of strong hydrophobicity, poor permeability, poor absorption, and rapid metabolism result in low oral bioavailability, which dramatically hinders their efficacy for use. Recently, free PTs have successively been found to self-assemble or co-assemble into self-contained nanostructures with enhanced water dispersibility and oral bioavailability, which seems to be an efficient processing method for increased oral efficacy. Of particular interest, formulating them into nanostructures can also be introduced as functional delivery carriers for bioactive compounds or drugs with various advantages, such as improved stability, controlled release, enhanced oral bioavailability, synergistic bioactivity, and targeted delivery. This review systematically summarized the chemical structures, plant sources, bioactivities, absorption, metabolism, and oral bioavailability of PTs. Notably, we emphasized their self-assembly properties and emerging role as functional delivery carriers for nutrients, suggesting that PT nanostructures are not only efficient oral forms when introduced into foods but also functional delivery materials for nutrients to expand their commercial food applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi Liu
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Forest Food Processing and Safety, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Han Liu
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Forest Food Processing and Safety, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Lulu Zhang
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Forest Food Processing and Safety, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Ma
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Forest Food Processing and Safety, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - A M Abd El-Aty
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
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Structural Investigation of Betulinic Acid Plasma Metabolites by Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27217359. [PMID: 36364186 PMCID: PMC9656950 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27217359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Betulinic acid (BA) has been extensively studied in recent years mainly for its antiproliferative and antitumor effect in various types of cancers. Limited data are available regarding the pharmacokinetic profile of BA, particularly its metabolic transformation in vivo. In this study, we present the screening and structural investigations by ESI Orbitrap MS in the negative ion mode and CID MS/MS of phase I and phase II metabolites detected in mouse plasma after the intraperitoneal administration of a nanoemulsion containing BA in SKH 1 female mice. Obtained results indicate that the main phase I metabolic reactions that BA undergoes are monohydroxylation, dihydroxylation, oxidation and hydrogenation, while phase II reactions involved sulfation, glucuronidation and methylation. The fragmentation pathway for BA and its plasma metabolites were elucidated by sequencing of the precursor ions by CID MS MS experiments.
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Tuli HS, Sak K, Gupta DS, Kaur G, Aggarwal D, Chaturvedi Parashar N, Choudhary R, Yerer MB, Kaur J, Kumar M, Garg VK, Sethi G. Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Properties of Birch Bark-Derived Betulin: Recent Developments. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10122663. [PMID: 34961132 PMCID: PMC8705846 DOI: 10.3390/plants10122663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Birch tree bark-derived betulin has attracted scientific interest already for several centuries, being one of the first natural products identified from plants. However, the cellular events regulated by betulin and precise molecular mechanisms under these processes have been begun to be understood only recently. Today, we know that betulin can exert important anticancer activities through modulation of diverse cellular pathways. In this review article, betulin-regulated molecular signaling is unraveled and presented with a special focus on its participation in anti-inflammatory processes, especially by modulating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), prostaglandin/COX, and nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated cascades. By regulating these diverse pathways, betulin can not only affect the development and progression of different cancers, but also enhance the antitumor action of traditional therapeutic modalities. It is expected that by overcoming the low bioavailability of betulin by encapsulating it into nanocarriers, this promising natural compound may provide novel possibilities for targeting inflammation-related cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hardeep Singh Tuli
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133207, Haryana, India; (D.A.); (N.C.P.); (R.C.)
- Correspondence: (H.S.T.); (G.S.)
| | | | - Dhruv Sanjay Gupta
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM’s NMIMS, Mumbai 40056, Maharashtra, India; (D.S.G.); (G.K.)
| | - Ginpreet Kaur
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM’s NMIMS, Mumbai 40056, Maharashtra, India; (D.S.G.); (G.K.)
| | - Diwakar Aggarwal
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133207, Haryana, India; (D.A.); (N.C.P.); (R.C.)
| | - Nidarshana Chaturvedi Parashar
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133207, Haryana, India; (D.A.); (N.C.P.); (R.C.)
| | - Renuka Choudhary
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133207, Haryana, India; (D.A.); (N.C.P.); (R.C.)
| | - Mukerrem Betul Yerer
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38039, Turkey;
| | - Jagjit Kaur
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Nanoscale Biophotonics (CNBP), Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia;
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Sadopur 134007, Haryana, India;
| | - Vivek Kumar Garg
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, University Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali 140413, Punjab, India;
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore
- Correspondence: (H.S.T.); (G.S.)
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Zhang L, Yuan PH, Yang DZ, Bi YC, Su B, Zhang BX, Wang FQ, Lu Y, Du GH. Purity and Uncertainty Study of CRM Betulin by DSC. NATURAL PRODUCTS AND BIOPROSPECTING 2020; 10:317-324. [PMID: 32809127 PMCID: PMC7520392 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-020-00261-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Betulin (BE) can be obtained from many plants, such as those belonging Betulaceae family, and pharmacological investigations showed its notable biological properties and good potential for food and pharmaceutical development. We investigated the homogeneity, stability, purity, and uncertainty of a newly certified reference material (CRM) of BE. The certified purity value for the CRM of BE was 99.56% with an extended uncertainty of 0.07% (k = 2, P = 0.95), as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In this study, DSC was used for the first time for purity determination of BE. Given its high accuracy, precision, and reproducibility, DSC can be used as an alternative technique for purity determination of CRMs in the pharmaceutical and food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhang
- Beijing City Key Laboratory of Polymorphic Drugs, Center of Pharmaceutical Polymorphs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng-Hui Yuan
- Beijing City Key Laboratory of Polymorphic Drugs, Center of Pharmaceutical Polymorphs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - De-Zhi Yang
- Beijing City Key Laboratory of Polymorphic Drugs, Center of Pharmaceutical Polymorphs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Cai Bi
- Soteria Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Laiwu, 271100, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Su
- Soteria Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Laiwu, 271100, People's Republic of China
| | - Bao-Xi Zhang
- Beijing City Key Laboratory of Polymorphic Drugs, Center of Pharmaceutical Polymorphs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Fu-Qing Wang
- China Pharmaceutical Enterprises Association, Beijing, 100044, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yang Lu
- Beijing City Key Laboratory of Polymorphic Drugs, Center of Pharmaceutical Polymorphs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Guan-Hua Du
- Beijing City Key Laboratory of Drug Target and Screening Research, National Center for Pharmaceutical Screening, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
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Potential of herb-drug / herb interactions between substrates and inhibitors of UGTs derived from herbal medicines. Pharmacol Res 2019; 150:104510. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.104510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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