title: Study of the betulin enriched birch bark extracts effects on human carcinoma cells and ear inflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pentacyclic triterpenes, mainly betulin and betulinic acid, are valuable anticancer agents found in the bark of birch tree. This study evaluates birch bark extracts for the active principles composition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  New improved extraction methods were applied on the bark of Betula pendula in order to reach the maximum content in active principles. Extracts were analyzed by HPLC-MS, Raman, SERS and 13C NMR spectroscopy which revealed a very high yield of betulin (over 90%). Growth inhibiting effects were measured in vitro on four malignant human cell lines: A431 (skin epidermoid carcinoma), A2780 (ovarian carcinoma), HeLa (cervix adenocarcinoma) and MCF7 (breast adenocarcinoma), by means of MTT assay. All of the prepared bark extracts exerted a pronounced antiproliferative effect against human cancer cell lines. In vivo studies involved the anti-inflammatory effect of birch extracts on TPA-induced model of inflammation in mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The research revealed the efficacy of the extraction procedures as well as the antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of birch extracts.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, Timişoara, RO- 300041, România. codrutasoica@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Cristina A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dehelean
authors.forename: Codruţa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soica
authors.forename: Ionuţ
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ledeţi
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aluaş
authors.forename: Istvan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zupko
authors.forename: Atena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: G Luşcan
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cinta-Pinzaru
authors.forename: Melania
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Munteanu