3-Oxobetulin (Synonyms: Betulone)

3-Oxobetulin is a pentacyclic triterpenoid and derivative of betulinic acid that has been found in I. macropoda and has diverse biological activities.^1,2,3 It is active against the plant pathogenic fungi L. betulina and L. sulphureus when used at a concentration of 30 µg/ml.² 3-Oxobetulin reduces HIV-1 replication in MT-2 cells (IC₅₀ = 4.1 µM) with a 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC₅₀) value of greater than 100 µM.⁴ It inhibits cadmium-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner.³

1.Kim, D.K., Nam, I.Y., Kim, J.W., et al.Pentacyclic triterpenoids from Ilex macropodaArch. Pharm. Res.25(5)617-620(2002) 2.Chien, S.-C., Xiao, J.-H., Tseng, Y.-H., et al.Composition and antifungal activity of balsam from Liquidambar formosana HanceHolzforschung67(3)345-351(2013) 3.Hiroya, K., Takahashi, T., Miura, N., et al.Synthesis of betulin derivatives and their protective effects against the cytotoxicity of cadmiumBioorg. Med. Chem.10(10)3229-3236(2002) 4.Callies, O., Bedoya, L.M., BeltrÁn, M., et al.Isolation, structural modification, and HIV inhibition of pentacyclic lupane-type triterpenoids from Cassine xylocarpa and Maytenus cuzcoinaJ. Nat. Prod.78(5)1045-1055(2015)