20% betulinic acid ointment

20% betulinic acid ointment is an investigational topical formulation developed by the University of Illinois at Chicago for the treatment of dysplastic nevus syndrome. The active ingredient, betulinic acid, is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid derived from sources such as the white birch tree. It exhibits selective cytotoxicity against melanoma and pre-melanoma cells by inducing apoptosis through the mitochondrial (intrinsic) pathway, specifically by triggering the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and the subsequent release of cytochrome c. This therapy is intended to treat moderate to severe dysplastic nevi, which are atypical moles that serve as precursors to melanoma, with the goal of eliminating these potentially pre-malignant lesions and reducing the risk of progression to invasive skin cancer.

Other names

betulinic acid ointmenttopical betulinic acid