Betulonaldehyde is a pentacyclic triterpenoid and derivative of the cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitor betulin that has been found inBetula.¹It is active againstP. falciparum(IC₅₀= 3.36 µg/ml) and cytotoxic to NCI H187 lung cancer cells and non-cancerous Vero cells (IC₅₀s = 19.23 and 17.09 µg/ml, respectively).²Topical application of betulonaldehyde (1 mg/ear) reduces ear edema induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in mice.³It has also been used a precursor in the semisynthesis of C-2 and C-28 betulonic aldehyde derivatives.¹

1.Ayers, S., Benkovics, T., Marshall, J., et al.Autoxidation products of betulonaldehydeJ. Nat. Prod.79(10)2758-2761(2016) 2.Wisetsai, A., Schevenels, F.T., and Lekphrom, R.Chemical constituents and their biological activities from the roots of diospyros filipendulaNat. Prod. Res.1-5(2019) 3.Yasukawa, K., Yu, S., Yamanouchi, S., et al.Some lupane-type triterpenes inhibit tumor promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in two-stage carcinogenesis in mouse skinPhytomedicine1(4)309-313(1995)