Antiprotozoal activity of Betulinic acid derivatives

published online 14 September 2009.

Abstract

Betulinic acid (1), isolated from the crude extract of the leaves of Pentalinon andrieuxii (Apocynaceae), together with betulinic acid acetate (2), betulonic acid (3), betulinic acid methyl ester (4), and betulin (5) were evaluated for their antiprotozoal activity. The results showed that modifying the C-3 position increases leishmanicidal activity while modification of the C-3 and C-28 positions decreases trypanocidal activity.

Keywords: Pentalinon andriexii, Betulinic acid, Leishmanicidal, Trypanocidal, Antiplasmodial

a Unidad de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Calle 43, No. 130, Col. Chuburná, Mérida, Yucatán 97200, México

b Instituto de Investigaciones Fármaco-Bioquímicas, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (IIFB-UMSA), Miraflores, La Paz, Bolivia

c Departamento de Microbiología Ambiental y Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Campeche, Campeche, México

Corresponding author. Tel.: +529999428330x159; fax: +529999813900.

PII: S0944-7113(09)00205-0

doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2009.08.002

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