Sulfation of Betulin with ammonium sulfamate-urea mixture

Abstract

Betulin is a significant triterpenoid known for its diverse and valuable pharmacological properties, including antiviral, antitumor, and antioxidant activities. The incorporation of a sulfate group enhances both the solubility and bioavailability of betulin. This study introduces a novel method for betulin sulfation utilizing a combination of ammonium sulfamate and urea. The resulting betulin sulfates were thoroughly analyzed through various techniques, including elemental analysis, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, microscopy, and thermal analysis. The presence of the sulfate group was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy, which revealed the emergence of specific absorption bands associated with sulfation. X-ray diffraction studies indicated a reduction in the crystallinity of the original betulin structure following sulfation. The findings from this research offer a fresh perspective on the sulfation process of betulin, suggesting its potential for enhanced application in pharmacology.