Betulin and betulinic acid are pentacyclic triterpenes present in the bark of the birch tree and other vegetal sources. Quantitatively, in birch bark betulin is more significant than betulinic acid; therefore, birch can be a large and feasible source of raw material for betulin extraction. Betulin can be used as extracted or, after chemical modification, as a starting compound for its acid, betulinic acid, with both substances possessing various interesting pharmacological properties. The purpose of this study is to analyse the betulin and betulinic acid content of a birch tree bark extract, as well as its cytotoxic activity. The extraction was done using a Soxhlet extractor and chloroform/dichlormethane/methanol (1 : 1 : 1) as solvent. The betulin and betulinic acid content of the extract was estimated using standards of pure betulin and betulinic acid, by thermal analysis as opposed to pure substance (thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis). The extract and the main compounds were also analysed by NMR. The results indicated a high amount of betulin in the final extract (up to 50%), and an important quantity of betulinic acid: over 3%. The cytotoxic activity indicated a high proliferation inhibition for the birch tree extract but was still comparable with betulinic acid and betulin.

The Fourier transform Raman and IR spectra of betulin (lup-20(29)-ene-3β,28-diol) crystalline powder were recorded and analyzed. The vibrational wavenumbers and the corresponding vibrational assignments were theoretically studied using the Gaussian 03 package. The calculated vibrational wavenumbers with the B3LYP density functionals are generally consistent with the observed spectra. A complete vibrational characterization of betulin modes has been proposed here for the first time. Based on the vibrational analysis, two direct applications of the results have been described. It was shown that the outer bark of Betula Pendula Roth (the birch tree) contains betulin as a major component along with minor amounts of betulinic acid (BA), lupeol and other pentacyclic triterpenes derivatives. Since the major disadvantage of betulin is its low solubility, giving rise to serious problems in making pharmaceutical formulations, several guest-host type of complexes of betulin-cyclodextrins have been prepared and analyzed using FT-Raman spectroscopy. Based on the vibrational analysis, it was concluded that the OH and CH 2 OH functional groups are free from chemical interactions with the cyclodextrin cavity.

The presence of 19 polyphenolic compounds was simultaneously assessed through a HPLC method in the buds of three species: Alnus glutinosa, Alnus incana, and Corylus avellana. The pattern of phenol carboxylic acids indicates that compounds like gentisic acid, sinapic acid, and the esters of tartaric acid (cichoric acid, caftaric acid) do not exist in buds, although they have been detected in mature organs. Buds only contain esters of quinic acid. Ferulic acid is a common compound in buds, being observed in all genus investigated. In the case of the flavonoid profile, young tissues of Alnus sp. and Corylus avellana only contain glycosides of quercetin. The preferred sugar for glycosylation is galactose, as the major flavonoid glycoside is in all cases hyperoside. The buds of A. glutinosa display the highest content in phenol carboxylic acids; this situation justifies their main prescription in the treatment of hepatic disorders.Polyphenolic compounds constitute one of the largest, most widespread and functionally important groups of secondary plant metabolites. Presently they are divided into several classes: phenol carboxylic acids, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, anthranoids, and lignans [1]. In recent years, these substances, and flavonoids in particular, have attracted great interest due to their antioxidative capacity, which confers on them a valuable therapeutic potential in treating a large array of free-radical mediated diseases [2].The numerous health benefits of polyphenols promoted a wide-scale investigation of their presence in plant products. However, in the case of buds (gemmae), pharmacognostic researches have only been undertaken to a small extent. Recent histochemical tests revealed the presence of three types of polyphenolic compounds in buds, differing in what their intracellular localization is concerned: granular polyphenols, vacuolar polyphenols, and drop-like polyphenols [3].The present study was aimed at bringing new data on the polyphenolic profile of Alnus and Corylus buds, closely related from a phylogenic point of view. These buds are important gemmotherapeutic remedies, prescribed in hepatic, respiratory, circulatory, and inflammatory disorders [4]. However, data on their chemical composition are lacking as until the present, phytochemical studies have only been performed on barks, roots and root exudates, leaves, fruits, and seeds of Alnus sp. and Corylus avellana [5][6][7][8][9][10]. Beyond giving information on the composition of these buds, the present research is also expected to give clues regarding the ontogenic dynamics of polyphenols in the two mentioned genus, and to create the base for a scientific and rational therapeutic utilization of these buds. Our investigations employed, after adaptation, a previously developed HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of phenolic compounds [11,12].Nineteen polyphenolic compounds have been researched in the foliar buds of Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., Alnus incana (L.) Moench, and Corylus avellana L. The substances were: one hydro...

BackgroundThe isoflavonoid genistein represents the major active compound from soybean, the vegetal product from Glycine max (Fabaceae). The aim of this study is to prove that genistein was incorporated in two semisynthetic cyclodextrins, beta-cyclodextrin derivatives: hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and randomly-methylated-beta-cyclodextrin as well as to compare the anti-inflammatory activity of genistein with that of genistein incorporated in these two types of semisynthetic cyclodextrins.ResultsThe animal studies were conducted on 8-week old C57BL/6 J female mice. Inflammation was induced in both ears of each mouse by topical application of 10 micrograms 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-3-acetate dissolved in 0.1 ml solvent (acetone : dimethylsulfoxide in a molar ratio 9:1). Thirty minutes later treatment was applied. The inflammatory reaction was correlated with increased values in ear thickness. Treatment with genistein and genistein incorporated in the two cyclodextrins led to decreased values for ear thickness. Better anti-inflammatory action was found for the complexes of genistein. Both haematoxylin-eosin analysis and CD45 marker expression are in agreement with these findings.ConclusionsResults allow concluding that genistein is an active anti-inflammatory phytocompound and its complexation with hydrophilic beta-cyclodextrin derivatives leads to a stronger anti-inflammatory activity.

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