Preparation of betulinic acid derivatives by chemical and biotransformation methods and determination of cytotoxicity against selected cancer cell lines.

Several novel 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone betulinic acid derivatives have been prepared by chemical and biotransformation methods using fungi and carrot cells. Some compounds showed significant cytotoxicity and selectivity against some tumor cell lines. The most active, 3-[(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazono]lup-(20R)-29-oxolupan-28-oic acid, showed IC50 values between 1.76 and 2.51 μM against five human cancer cell lines. The most selective, 3-hydroxy-20-[(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazono]-29-norlupan-28-oic acid, was five to seven times more selective for cancer cells when compared to fibroblasts. Cell cycle analysis and apoptosis induction were studied for the most active derivatives.