Betulinic acid is a naturally-occurring triterpene found in the bark of the white birch tree. Research has found betulinic acid to be particularly useful against melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer, by targeting tumors without destroying healthy cells.
MOTW update: May 8, 2023
Betulinic acid is a triterpene found in the bark of the white birch (Betula pubescens) and other tree species. In 1995, it was reported to be effective at inhibiting human melanoma, a finding that has since been confirmed. In April Takashi Ito and co-workers at Fukui Prefectural University (Japan) further reported that betulinic acid alleviates cellular senescence (aging) in human dermal fibroblasts.
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