Design, synthesis, and anti-tumor activity of novel betulinic acid derivatives

Abstract

Seventeen new derivatives of betulinic acid (BA) with potential anti-tumor activity have been synthesized. In order to improve the bioactivity of BA, we connected BA and nitric oxide donors together via different linkers. The results of the biological activity of these derivatives showed that four compounds exhibited obvious cytotoxicity against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro.

Keywords::

• betulinic acid
• anti-cancer
• NO donors
• structural modification
• NO-releasing

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 20972190), and the Academic Leadership of ‘QingLan’ Project of Jiangsu Department of Education.