Betulin a pentacyclic tri–terpenoid: an hour to rethink the compound

Mother earth, a bionetwork enriched with plethora of remarkable plants holding numerous beneficial chemical compounds, which play an integral role in maintaining the lives stealth and safe. Betulin lup20 (29)–ene–3ß, 28–diol, a pentacyclictriterpene alcohol with a lupane skeleton is one of such chemical compounds contributing towards the advancement in field of medicine.1–3 It is obtained from outer bark of Birch trees.4–6 As described in Figure 1: Betulin has a pentacyclic ring structure and hydroxyl groups in positions C3 and C28. 7–9 Betulin in presence of acid agents undergoes rearrangement to form allobetulin.10 It is acknowledged that plants with lupine series are helpful in curing various diseases for this one relies on betulin which on conversion tobetulinic acid, the alcohol group replaced by a carboxylic acid group has more biological activity.2,7,10,11 The alcohol group cannot join with stationary phase because two groups are located on opposite sides of compound.1 Betulinic acid, the more bioactive compound exhibits choleritic, antihelmintic, powerful prophylactic, anti–HIV, antimutageneagent, antiviral, anti–fungal, anti–leukemia, anti–leishmanial, anti–inflammatory, immunomodulator.7,12–15