Betulinic acid: A natural promising anticancer drug, current situation, and future perspectives

Natural products serve as the single most productive source for the discovery of drugs and pharmaceutical leads. Among the various chemicals derived from microbes, plants, and animals, phytochemicals have emerged as potential candidates for the development of anticancer drugs due to their structural diversities, complexities, and pleiotropic effects. Herein, we discuss betulinic acid (BA), a ubiquitously distributed lupane structured pentacyclic triterpenoid, scrutinized as a promising natural agent for the prevention, suppression, and management of various human malignancies. Ease of availability, common occurrences, cell-specific cytotoxicity, and astonishing selectivity are the important factors that contribute to the development of BA as an anticancer agent. The current review delineates the mechanistic framework of BA-mediated cancer suppression through the modulation of multiple signaling pathways and also summarizes the key outcomes of BA in preclinical investigations.

Automated summary

Natural products, particularly phytochemicals, have emerged as potential candidates for the development of anticancer drugs due to their structural diversities and pleiotropic effects. This article discusses betulinic acid (BA), a widely distributed natural compound, as a promising agent for the prevention and treatment of various human malignancies. The review provides insights into the mechanistic framework and key outcomes of BA in cancer suppression through modulation of multiple signaling pathways.