Fitoterapia. 2003 Jul; 74(5): 489-92.

Antiviral activity of betulin, betulinic and betulonic acids against some enveloped and non-enveloped viruses.

Pavlova NI, Savinova OV, Nikolaeva SN, Boreko EI, Flekhter OB.

Belarussian Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 4 K Zetkin str, Minsk 220050, Belarus.

Antiviral properties of betulin, betulinic and betulonic acids were investigated in cell cultures infected with herpes simplex type I, influenza FPV/Rostock and ECHO 6 viruses. All studied triterpenes were active against herpes simplex virus. Betulin and especially betulinic acid also suppressed ECHO 6 virus reproduction.