Antiviral activity of betulin, betulinic and betulonic acids against some enveloped and non-enveloped viruses

• Published in: Fitoterapia Vol. 74; no. 5; pp. 489 - 492
• Main Authors: Pavlova, N.I., Savinova, O.V., Nikolaeva, S.N., Boreko, E.I., Flekhter, O.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-07-2003
• Subjects: Antiviral activity; Antiviral Agents - administration & dosage; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Betulin; Betulinic acid; Betulonic acid; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Echovirus 6, Human - drug effects; Herpesvirus 1, Human - drug effects; Humans; Influenza A virus - drug effects; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Oleanolic Acid - administration & dosage; Oleanolic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Oleanolic Acid - pharmacology; Oleanolic Acid - therapeutic use; Phytotherapy; Plant Bark; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Triterpenes - administration & dosage; Triterpenes - pharmacology; Triterpenes - therapeutic use; Tumor Cells, Cultured - drug effects; Viral Envelope Proteins; Betulin; Betulinic acid; Betulonic acid; Antiviral activity
• ISSN: 0367-326X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0367-326X(03)00123-0

Antiviral properties of betulin, betulinic and betulonic acids were investigated in cell cultures infected with herpes simplex type I, influenza FPV/Rostock and ECHO 6 viruses. All studied triterpenes were active against herpes simplex virus. Betulin and especially betulinic acid also suppressed ECHO 6 virus reproduction.