Glycosylation of betulinic acid with
-D-glucose-pentaacetate was successfully synthesized in the
presence of boron trifluoro etherate (BF3
.Et2O) in pyridine to
give betulinic acid bisglucoside in 92.8% yield. Further
treatment of bisglucosides with methanol and sodium metal
produced high polarity betulinic acid glucoside with 45%
yield. Evaluation of human myeloid leukemia cell (HL60) and
human T4-lymphoblastoid cell (CEMSS) activities with both
synthesized compounds revealed that both compounds were
less potent compared to betulinic acid itself but their water
solubility were slightly increase.