title: Betulinic acid and its derivatives: a review on their biological properties.
abstract: Betulinic acid is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid and has been shown to exhibit a variety of biological activities including inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), antibacterial, antimalarial, antiinflammatory, anthelmintic and antioxidant properties. This article reports a survey of the literature dealing with betulinic acid related biological properties that has appeared from the 1990's to the beginning of 2003. A broad range of medical and pharmaceutical disciplines are covered, including a brief introduction about discovery, phytochemical aspects, organic synthesis, anti-HIV and cytotoxic mechanisms of action. Various structural modifications carried out and their biological and pharmacokinetic profiles are also incorporated.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Department, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani-333031, India. pyogie_2000@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Perumal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yogeeswari
authors.forename: Dharmarajan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sriram
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000962:Antimalarials; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D014315:Triterpenes; D000094062:Betulinic Acid