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Betulin MSDS (Eng) Betulin (Eng) Обзор по бетулину Статья о Бетулине Паспорт на БЭС Свидетельство на Бетулин Удостоверение качества Экспертное заключение Статья в Cell Metabolism 
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Betulin is one of the main components of birch bark and is known to possess a broad range of biological capabilities that include anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-cancer effects. The present study was carried out in vitro to clarify the influence of betulin on melanocortin (MC) receptor-ergic signaling by using COS-7 cells transfected with corresponding human MC receptor DNA. The results show that betulin binds to the human melanocortin MC1, three to five receptors with selectivity to the MC1 subtype. Betulin binds to the MC receptors with the following potency order-MC > MC3 > MC5 > MC4. Betulin itself does not stimulate cAMP generation; however, it slightly antagonizes alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH)-induced cAMP accumulation in the mouse melanoma cell line B16-F1. As a water-insoluble substance, betulin was dissolved in DMSO, therefore DMSO competition with the labeled ligand NDP-MSH for the binding to the MC receptors was tested in an identical experimental set-up. We found that DMSO competes for binding to all the MC receptor subtypes, at 20% concentrations and above. Selectivity for one or another receptor subtype was not observed. We have demonstrated for the first time, the ability of the plant compound betulin to bind to the MC receptors. One may suggest MC receptor MC1 subtype as the essential target for the anti-melanoma action of betulin and its structurally similar molecules such as betulinic acid. Moreover, we have discovered betulin, a new non-peptide small, MC mimetic molecule. Thus, we report a new chemical method for binding with MC receptors that could be used as a template in the search for more selective MC mimetic molecules. Betulin, a powdery substance in the outer bark of the birch tree, has been proven to help wounds heal faster and to lower inflammation. Many cosmetic companies add birch bark extract to various products and call them skin toners and restorers. Betulinic acid, a birch bark compound, is being tested as a treatment for melanoma and other serious diseases. Fields of betulin’s application: 1. Hepatoprotector 2. Anti-aging treatments 3. Immunomodulator 4. Skin treatment 5. Cosmetics Betulin can be easily converted to betulinic acid, which possesses a wide range of biological and pharmacological properties. Betulinic acid has the same healing powers as natural betulin. Betulinic acid shows activity again some melanomas or cancer, several forms of herpes and even AIDS. It has also proven to have anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV and anti-malarial, abilities as well as showing cytotoxicity towards a number of tumor cell lines. Even though betulin derivatives are most widely studied for their anti-cancer activity, their anti-HIV effect is also well-known. It has been shown that betulin can inhibit HIV entry to T-cells by binding to group 41, an HIV protein that allows the virus to invade the cell. Betulin, a substance that is extracted from the outer bark of the birch tree, has been shown to help heal wounds faster and to lower inflammation. The cytotoxic potential of betulinic acid was tested using three human melanoma cell lines, MEL-1, -2, -3, and -4. The growth of all of the cell lines was inhibited significantly after treatment with betulinic acid. The effectiveness of betulinic acid against melanoma cancer cells was also tested on athymic (nude) mice. The mice were injected with human melanoma cells, after which tumor size was observed for 40 days. The betulinic acid seemed to effectively inhibit the growth of tumors in the mice, and the mice did not experience drug toxicity side effects such as weight loss. Betulinic acid seems to work by inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells. Due to its apparent specificity for melanoma cells, betulinic acid seems to be a more promising anti-cancer substance than drugs like Taxol. Taxol seems to be a more general cell poison and is not specific to cancer cells. In fact, the specificity of betulinic acid for melanoma cells is more unique than the specificity of many chemotherapy drugs, including camptothecin, ellipticine, mithramycin A, etoposide, vinblastine, and vincristine. Betulinic acid has also been found to delay the progression of HIV 1 infection, which eventually leads to AIDS, by preventing the formation of syncytia (cellular aggregates). In addition, betulinic acid has anti-bacterial properties and inhibits the growth of both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. |