Applications of Betulin from Acacia nilotica Bark for Cancer treatment

Date: 17 March 2026
Country: India
Plant Name:
Acacia
Residue Name:
Bark
End Products
Biochemicals
Betulin
Medicine
Antioxidant
Application
  • Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory: Betulin isolated from Acacia nilotica bark shows potential in combating oxidative stress and inflammation-related diseases.
  • Anticancer Activity: Betulin demonstrates promising cytotoxic effects against various cancer cell lines, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent in cancer treatment.
Description

This study focused on isolating and characterizing betulin (Lupan-3β,28-diol) from the bark of Acacia nilotica using bioassay-guided fractionation. Betulin was identified through Liebermann-Burchard testing and advanced spectroscopy techniques, including NMR and MS. The compound exhibited significant biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects, with dose-dependent inhibitory effects observed in all assays. This research highlights the potential of betulin as a bioactive compound for therapeutic applications.

Pathway Description:

The project involved extracting the bark of Acacia nilotica using chloroform, ethyl acetate, and acetone, followed by bioassay-guided fractionation. The ethyl acetate fraction was purified through column chromatography to isolate betulin (AN-10). The compound was identified using Liebermann-Burchard test, NMR, and MS techniques. Biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects were evaluated using various in vitro assays.

Source: Know More...
Tags: Betulin Extraction Bioassay Guided Fractionation Herbal Drug Discovery
Feedstock
Types of Feedstock
Forest residue
Name
Acacia nilotica Bark
Form
Isolated as pure powder
Logistics
Collected from Acacia nilotica trees grown in India, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Egypt
Characteristics
Exhibits significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities
Pathways
Chemical
Bioassay-guided Fractionation
Stakeholders
Educational Institution
Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU)