What does betulinic acid do?
What is betulinic acid?
Betulinic acid, also known as betulinic acid, is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid compound extracted from birch and other plants. Betulinic acid is mainly found in birch bark, and is also found in many plants such as Dianchi Jujube, Prunella Vulgaris, papaya, rosemary, etc. It belongs to the lupine-type pentacyclic triterpenoid substance, which has a variety of pharmacological activities and has been widely used in medicine, health and beauty. Its molecular structure has lupine-type characteristics, stable chemical properties, high melting point, and insoluble in water, but easily soluble in certain organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, pyridine, etc.
What does betulinic acid do?
Antioxidative stress
It has antioxidant effects and can resist cell damage caused by free radicals, thereby protecting the body from oxidative stress-related diseases.
Antiparasitic activity
Betulinic acid has a killing effect on certain parasites, which makes it potentially useful in the treatment of parasitic infections.
Improve immunity and regulate blood sugar
In addition to the above-mentioned pharmacological effects, betulinic acid also shows certain effects in improving immunity and regulating blood sugar. These effects may help manage diabetes and other conditions related to blood sugar levels.
Protects the ovaries from oxidative damage and inflammation
Recent studies have found that betulinic acid can alleviate the oxidative damage and inflammatory response in mouse ovaries induced by F-2 toxin by inhibiting p38 phosphorylation. This suggests that betulinic acid may have potential applications in reproductive health protection.
Antiviral
Betulinic acid has significant anti-HIV-1 activity, and its effect is even stronger than some existing clinical drugs, providing new possibilities for the treatment of AIDS.
Anti-inflammatory effect
Betulinic acid can reduce inflammatory reactions, reduce the release of inflammatory mediators, and has a certain therapeutic effect on a variety of inflammatory diseases. In addition, it can protect the gastric mucosa and enhance the antioxidant capacity of the gastric mucosa, thereby relieving gastritis and other digestive tract inflammation.
Antibacterial
Betulinic acid has inhibitory effects on a variety of bacteria and fungi and exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. This antibacterial effect may be related to its destruction of bacterial cell walls or interference with bacterial metabolism.
Immunomodulation
Betulinic acid can regulate human monocyte-derived dendritic cells, causing them to interact with T cells, thereby producing immune effects. In addition, it can activate macrophages, improve their phagocytic capacity and energy metabolism, thereby enhancing the body's immunity.
Regulate blood sugar
Betulinic acid also has a certain effect in regulating blood sugar and can help maintain the stability of blood sugar levels.
Lower uric acid
Some studies have pointed out that betulinic acid may have the effect of lowering uric acid and has a certain auxiliary therapeutic effect on gout and other diseases related to high uric acid.
What is the antioxidant mechanism of betulinic acid?
Increase antioxidant enzyme activity
Betulinic acid can significantly increase the activity of various antioxidant enzymes in the body. These enzymes play a key role in scavenging free radicals and protecting cells from oxidative damage.
Increases the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. These enzymes can catalyze the decomposition of harmful substances such as superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide, thereby reducing their damage to cells.
Reduce the content of lipid peroxidation products such as malondialdehyde. MDA is an important product in the lipid peroxidation process, and the decrease in its content reflects the enhancement of the body's antioxidant capacity.
Regulatory signaling pathways
Betulinic acid exerts its antioxidant effects by regulating specific signaling pathways. For example, it can reduce oxidative damage in tissues and organs by regulating the Nrf2/MAPK signaling pathway. Nrf2 is an important transcription factor that regulates the expression of a variety of antioxidant and detoxification genes. Betulinic acid can activate Nrf2, causing it to bind to antioxidant response elements, thereby upregulating the expression of antioxidant proteins and enhancing the antioxidant capacity of cells.
Maintain redox homeostasis
Redox homeostasis is an important basis for the body to maintain normal physiological functions. Betulinic acid exerts its antioxidant effects by maintaining redox homeostasis in the body. It can reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS)
accumulation and the occurrence of oxidative stress, thus protecting cells from oxidative damage. At the same time, betulinic acid can also regulate the microecological environment, reduce the growth of harmful bacteria, and further maintain the health of the body.
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Inhibit oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis
Oxidative stress is one of the important factors leading to cell apoptosis. Betulinic acid protects cells from damage by inhibiting the oxidative stress-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. It can inhibit the expression and activity of apoptosis-related proteins, thereby reducing the occurrence of apoptosis. This is of great significance for maintaining the normal structure and function of tissues and organs.
Immunomodulation
Betulinic acid also has certain immunomodulatory effects. It can activate immune cells such as macrophages, improve their phagocytic capacity and energy metabolism, thereby enhancing the body's immunity. At the same time, betulinic acid can also regulate the levels of immunoglobulins (such as IgG, lgM) and improve the body's humoral immune function. These effects help the body better respond to external challenges and injuries.
What are the benefits of betulinic acid for the skin?
Whitening and spot removal: Betulinic acid has the ability to inhibit the production of melanin, which can reduce the accumulation of melanin in the skin, thereby achieving a whitening effect and helping to remove spots.
Antioxidant: It contains antioxidant ingredients that can neutralize free radicals, reduce damage to the skin, and fight the effects of skin aging and environmental pollution.
Anti-inflammatory: Betulinic acid also has anti-inflammatory effects, which can relieve skin inflammation and sensitive reactions and help the skin stay healthy.
Moisturizing and protection: In skin care products, betulinic acid can form a structure similar to the natural protective film on the surface of the skin, effectively lock in moisture, maintain the water and oil balance of the skin, and block external irritants.
Promote repair: It can accelerate the wound healing process, reduce inflammatory reactions, promote collagen synthesis, help repair damaged skin tissue, and make the skin healthier and smoother.
In what fields is betulinic acid applied?
Medical field
Treatment of lead poisoning
Betulinic acid has the effect of removing lead, can reduce the residual amount of blood lead, brain lead, liver lead, kidney lead, and bone lead, and promote the excretion of urine lead and fecal lead.
Improve immunity and regulate blood sugar
Betulinic acid has a variety of pharmacological activities, including anti-oxidative stress, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, etc., and also has certain effects in improving immunity and regulating blood sugar.
As a leptin sensitizer
Betulinic acid can be used as a leptin sensitizer for the preparation of drugs related to the treatment of leptin resistance.
As a cadmium scavenger in the body
Betulinic acid can be used as a cadmium scavenger in the body to prepare drugs, health products and foods that remove cadmium from the body.
Cosmetic field
Betulinic acid can be used as a cosmetic raw material for the preparation of cosmetics with anti-aging, whitening and other effects.
Food field
As a natural antioxidant, betulinic acid can play an important role in the food field. It can extend the shelf life of food and maintain the freshness and nutritional value of food. In the food industry, betulinic acid can be added to food as an additive to play an antioxidant and preservative role.
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