title: Betulinic acid, a natural compound with potent anticancer effects.
abstract: New therapies using novel mechanisms to induce tumor cell death are needed with plants playing a crucial role as a source for potential anticancer compounds. One highly promising class of natural compounds are the triterpenoids with betulinic acid (BetA) as the most prominent representative. In-vitro studies have identified this agent as potently effective against a wide variety of cancer cells, also those derived from therapy-resistant and refractory tumors, whereas it has been found to be relatively nontoxic for healthy cells. In-vivo preclinically applied BetA showed some remarkable anticancer effects and a complete absence of systemic toxicity in rodents. BetA also cooperated with other therapies to induce tumor cell death and several potent derivatives have been discovered. Its antitumor activity has been related to its direct effects on mitochondria where it induces Bax/Bak-independent cytochrome-c release.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Franziska B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Mullauer
authors.forename: Jan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: Jan Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Medema
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D059003:Topoisomerase Inhibitors; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D001688:Biological Products; D016328:NF-kappa B; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D059003:Topoisomerase Inhibitors; D014315:Triterpenes; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000094062:Betulinic Acid