Betulin
Betulin is an abundant, naturally occurring triterpene. It is commonly isolated from the bark of birch trees, hence its name, from betula. It forms up to 30% of the dry weight of silver birch bark.[1] It is also found in birch sap.[2] Inonotus obliquus contains betulin.[3]
The compound in the bark gives the tree its white color which appears to protect the tree from mid-winter overheating by the sun. As a result, birches are some of the northernmost occurring deciduous trees.
History
Betulin was discovered in 1788 by German-Russian chemist Johann Tobias Lowitz.[4][5]
Chemistry
Chemically, betulin is a triterpenoid of lupane structure. It has a pentacyclic ring structure, and hydroxyl groups in positions C3 and C28.
See also
References
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