New composites of betulin esters with arabinogalactan as highly potent anti-cancer agents

Abstract

Betulin and its esters are the natural compounds with high in vitro cytotoxicity toward many cancer cells. However, the poor water solubility of these compounds has limited their applications. We prepared new composites of betulin esters using two methods, namely ball milling of the mixtures of betulin esters with arabinogalactan and preparation of thin films of these mixtures by evaporating the aqueous solutions. These composites revealed higher water solubility as compared to the initial substances without losing the structural integrity and functionality of these compounds. As a result, the new composites have shown much higher inhibitory effects against different cancer cell lines such as Ehrlich ascite carcinoma cells and lung carcinoma cells (A549) in comparison with the initial substances. The cell viability studies based on Annexin V and Propidium iodide probes have confirmed the high proapoptotic effect of betulin esters derivatives against cancer cells.