Methods of Analysis and Identification of Betulin and Its Derivatives.

This scientific work presents practical and theoretical material on the methods of analysis and identification of betulin and its key derivatives. The properties of betulin and its derivatives, which are determined by the structural features of this class of compounds and their tendency to form dimers, polymorphism and isomerization, are considered. This article outlines ways to improve not only the bioavailability but also the solubility of triterpenoids, as well as any hydrophobic drug substances, through chemical transformations by introducing various functional groups, such as carboxyl, hydroxyl, amino, phosphate/phosphonate and carbonyl. The authors of this article summarized the physicochemical characteristics of betulin and its compounds, systematized the literature data on IR and NMR spectroscopy and gave the melting temperatures of key acids and aldehydes based on betulin.

Methods of Betulin Extraction from Birch Bark.

Betulin is the most popular of the known triterpenoids of the lupan series. It has valuable pharmacological properties. It exhibits antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, hypolipidemic and other types of activity. The prospects of using betulin in medicine, pharmacology, and veterinary medicine require the development of effective methods for obtaining it from waste from the woodworking industry. Therefore, the question arises of the need to develop a technology for isolating and purifying triterpenoids from birch bark in large quantities. This review contains a variety of methods for the isolation of betulin. The advantages and disadvantages of the proposed methods are described. The following methods are considered: vacuum sublimation after preliminary alkaline; vacuum pyrolysis; supercritical extraction with carbon dioxide or mixtures of carbon dioxide with various solvents; extraction with organic solvents. Also, the method of microwave is described, it is activation on the example of the Kyrgyz birch (Betula kirghisorum), this is an endemic species that has not been studied before, growing on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.