In animal studies, it lowered cholesterol levels, helped to prevent diet-induced obesity and reduced the risk of diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity. Betulin is “abundant in birch bark” according to the Chinese team, led by Dr Bao-Liang Song, from the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences. Their studies suggested betulin may be even more effective than lovastatin, a member of the statin class of drugs widely prescribed for controlling cholesterol levels.

Betulin decreased damaging compounds in liver and fat to a greater extent than lovastatin. It also made the body respond better to insulin, through its effects on fatty acids. Betulin is already used in the manufacture of other drugs, Dr Song said. But he pointed out that, although it appears to have very low toxicity, further studies were needed to assess its safety and metabolic effects.

Research might also yield derivatives of betulin that were even more promising, he said. ”That may be the path forward to move this clinically,” he added.

Betulin-treated mice were also more resistant to developing atherosclerotic plaques in their arteries. Betulin works by targeting so-called sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), transcription factors that are known to be important for activating the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, fatty acids, and triglycerides. ”Our study shows that the SREBP pathway is a good target for several metabolic diseases,” said Bao-Liang Song of the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences. ”We also identify a leading compound.” In the new study, Song and his colleagues went in search of a compound that might act directly on SREBP. That chemical screen turned up betulin as a top contender. They then confirmed in cells that betulin lowered the activity of genes that are normally switched “on” by SREBP.  It also lowered lipid levels within cells.

Song’s team then treated mice on a high-fat, Western diet with betulin, the cholesterol-lowering statin known as lovastatin, or a placebo (saline) for 6 weeks. Compared to placebo, both drugs led the mice to gain less weight on the high-fat diet, though by different means. Betulin caused the animals to burn more calories while lovastatin appeared to reduce the amount of lipid taken up from the diet. Further investigations showed that betulin also lowered lipid levels in blood, liver, and fat tissue.

Betulin also made the animals more sensitive to insulin. Mice with a mutation that makes them prone to develop atherosclerosis showed fewer plaques when treated with either lovastatin or betulin. ”Betulin has several major metabolic effects,” Song said.

For six weeks, researchers fed mice a high-fat diet and treated them with betulin, lovastatin (a drug used to lower cholesterol levels), or a placebo. Compared to placebo, both betulin and lovastatin led to less weight gain. Betulin also appeared to lower fat levels in the animals’ blood, liver, and fat tissue, as well as increase their sensitivity to insulin and lessen their chances of developing plaques associated with atherosclerosis.

Available in supplement form, birch bark is often touted as a natural pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, and virus-fighter. To date, few studies have tested its effects on human health.

In mice, the compound known as betulin lowered cholesterol, helped prevent diet-induced obesity, and improved insulin sensitivity. Betulin-treated mice were also more resistant to developing atherosclerotic plaques in their arteries.
Betulin works by targeting so-called sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), transcription factors that are known to be important for activating the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, fatty acids, and triglycerides. ”Our study shows that the SREBP pathway is a good target for several metabolic diseases,” said Bao-Liang Song of the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences. ”We also identify a leading compound.” In the new study, Song and his colleagues went in search of a compound that might act directly on SREBP. That chemical screen turned up betulin as a top contender. They then confirmed in cells that betulin lowered the activity of genes that are normally switched “on” by SREBP. It also lowered lipid levels within cells. Song’s team then treated mice on a high-fat, Western diet with betulin, the cholesterol-lowering statin known as lovastatin, or a placebo (saline) for 6 weeks. Compared to placebo, both drugs led the mice to gain less weight on the high-fat diet, though by different means.

Betulin caused the animals to burn more calories while lovastatin appeared to reduce the amount of lipid taken up from the diet. Further investigations showed that betulin also lowered lipid levels in blood, liver, and fat tissue. Betulin also made the animals more sensitive to insulin. Mice with a mutation that makes them prone to develop atherosclerosis showed fewer plaques when treated with either lovastatin or betulin.

“Betulin has several major metabolic effects,” Song said.

Researchers from the Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences have found that this active ingredient has several metabolic benefits for treating the complications of Obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The results of their findings appear in the January 2011 issue of the Journal Cell Metabolism of Cell Press publication. Cells in our body follow the chemical instructions genes to know their functions.

The genes are made up of molecules called DNA. Another type of molecules RNA reads the genes and produces chemicals called proteins to carry out the instructed functions of the cells. This process is called gene expression.

What Research Learnt About the Benefits of Birch Bark? Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) are involved in the gene expression of fatty acids, cholesterols and triglycerides productions in the body. The research study found that the ingredient betulin works by targeting the SREBP proteins. It was observed in the cells of experimental mice that the ingredient lowered the activity of genes which were switched on by this protein.

It resulted in lower levels of fat in these cells. To further test the effectiveness of the ingredients, the researchers fed the mice with high fat diet, followed betulin and cholesterol lowering drug lovastatin. Some mice were left untreated for comparison of the results of the study which lasted for 6 weeks. By the end of the study, both the treatments caused weight loss on consumption of high fat diets but with different working mechanisms.

While betulin worked by causing the mice burn excess calories, the drug brought down the amount of fat consumed from the diet. Its other benefits were reduction of lipid levels in fat tissues, liver and blood to a greater extent than lovastatin drug, fall in the risk of plaque formation in the pathways of the heart and rise in insulin sensitivity. Conclusion: The birch bark ingredient betulin is available easily and has been found to possess very low levels of toxicity.

However, further clinical studies are required to increase the potency of this naturally available compound.

And betulin works particularly better than the statin drug lovastatin at lowering cholesterol, except without the harmful side effects. Dr. Bao-Liang Song and his colleagues from SIBC tested the effects of betulin and found that it specifically targets the genes responsible for making harmful blood fats like triglycerides by effectively lowering their activity and protecting against disease.

And since the compound is “abundant in birch bark,” it has the potential to revolutionize the way blood fat levels are managed. Concerning cholesterol levels, betulin was shown to lower lipid levels more effectively than lovastatin.

And insulin-wise, betulin helps keep artery walls free and clear of build-ups and blockages, also known as atherosclerosis. Long used as an herbal remedy, betulin has been investigated for many other medicinal purposes as well: -The medicinal mushroom Chaga, for example, is rich in betulinic acid. And the betulin is recognized as one of the mushroom’s many anti-cancer compounds.

A study out of the University of Latvia found that betulin helps lower inflammation.

A 2003 study out of Russia found that betulin is a powerful antiviral nutrient.

Despite the fact that some reports have falsely identified betulin as a “drug”, the compound is really nothing more than a natural phytonutrient that birch trees themselves use as a natural protective “medicine”. Betulin is nothing like the pharmaceutical drugs sold at pharmacies; when formulated as an extract, it is a simple herbal supplement like the many others sold at health food stores.

Researchers at Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, led by Bao-Liang Song, found the compound — betulin — affected sterol regulatory element-binding proteins involved in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, fatty acids and triglycerides that are known as SREBPs. ”Our study shows that the SREBP pathway is a good target for several metabolic diseases,” Song said in a statement. The animal study, published in Cell Metabolism, found betulin helped lower cholesterol, prevent obesity, and improve insulin sensitivity in mice.

The betulin-treated mice were also more resistant to developing atherosclerotic plaques in their arteries. Song and colleagues gave betulin, the cholesterol-lowering statin lovastatin, or a placebo to mice fed a high-fat, Western diet, for six weeks. Compared to placebo, the researchers found both betulin and lovastatin led the mice to gain less weight on the high-fat diet, but by different means. Betulin caused the animals to burn more calories while lovastatin seemed to reduce the amount of fat taken up from the diet, Song said.

An ingredient found in abundance in birch bark appears to have an array of metabolic benefits, according to new studies in animals that are reported in the January issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication. In mice, the compound known as betulin lowered cholesterol, helped prevent diet-induced obesity, and improved insulin sensitivity. Betulin-treated mice were also more resistant to developing atherosclerotic plaques in their arteries. Betulin works by targeting so-called sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), transcription factors that are known to be important for activating the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, fatty acids, and triglycerides.

“Our study shows that the SREBP pathway is a good target for several metabolic diseases,” said Bao-Liang Song of the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences. ”We also identify a leading compound.” In the new study, Song and his colleagues went in search of a compound that might act directly on SREBP. That chemical screen turned up betulin as a top contender.
They then confirmed in cells that betulin lowered the activity of genes that are normally switched “on” by SREBP. It also lowered lipid levels within cells. Song’s team then treated mice on a high-fat, Western diet with betulin, the cholesterol-lowering statin known as lovastatin, or a placebo (saline) for 6 weeks. Compared to placebo, both drugs led the mice to gain less weight on the high-fat diet, though by different means.

Betulin caused the animals to burn more calories while lovastatin appeared to reduce the amount of lipid taken up from the diet. Further investigations showed that betulin also lowered lipid levels in blood, liver, and fat tissue. Betulin also made the animals more sensitive to insulin.

Mice with a mutation that makes them prone to develop atherosclerosis showed fewer plaques when treated with either lovastatin or betulin. ”Betulin has several major metabolic effects,” Song said. The researchers say that their findings suggest that betulin may have similar or even better effects than lovastatin, a member of the most widely prescribed drug class for treating high cholesterol. For instance, in their studies betulin decreased lipids in liver and fat to a greater extent than lovastatin did.

Betulin also improved insulin resistance through its effects on fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis. Song notes that betulin is a readily available compound and is already in use as a precursor in the manufacture of other drugs. Although betulin appears to have very low toxicity, he says future studies will need to further investigate the safety of betulin and its metabolic effects. Researchers will also explore the possibility that a derivative of betulin might have even greater potency. ”That may be the path forward to move this clinically,” Song said.

And betulin works particularly better than the statin drug lovastatin at lowering cholesterol, except without the harmful side effects. Dr. Bao-Liang Song and his colleagues from SIBC tested the effects of betulin and found that it specifically targets the genes responsible for making harmful blood fats like triglycerides by effectively lowering their activity and protecting against disease.

And since the compound is “abundant in birch bark,” it has the potential to revolutionize the way blood fat levels are managed. Concerning cholesterol levels, betulin was shown to lower lipid levels more effectively than lovastatin. And insulin-wise, betulin helps keep artery walls free and clear of build-ups and blockages, also known as atherosclerosis.

Long used as an herbal remedy, betulin has been investigated for many other medicinal purposes as well: -The medicinal mushroom Chaga, for example, is rich in betulinic acid. And the betulin is recognized as one of the mushroom’s many anti-cancer compounds.

• A study out of the University of Latvia found that betulin helps lower inflammation.
• A 2003 study out of Russia found that betulin is a powerful antiviral nutrient.

Despite the fact that some reports have falsely identified betulin as a “drug”, the compound is really nothing more than a natural phytonutrient that birch trees themselves use as a natural protective “medicine”.
Betulin is nothing like the pharmaceutical drugs sold at pharmacies; when formulated as an extract, it is a simple herbal supplement like the many others sold at health food stores.

Betulin works by targeting so-called sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), transcription factors that are known to be important for activating the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, fatty acids, and triglycerides. Bao-Liang Song of the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences China, noted that, the study showed that the SREBP pathway is a good target for several metabolic diseases and could be a leading compound.

In the new study, Song and his colleagues went in search of a compound that might act directly on SREBP. That chemical screen turned up betulin as a top contender. They then confirmed in cells that betulin lowered the activity of genes that are normally switched “on” by SREBP.

It also lowered lipid levels within cells. Song’s team then treated mice on a high-fat, Western diet with betulin, the cholesterol-lowering statin known as lovastatin, or a placebo (saline) for 6 weeks. Compared to placebo, both drugs led the mice to gain less weight on the high-fat diet, though by different means. Betulin caused the animals to burn more calories while lovastatin appeared to reduce the amount of lipid taken up from the diet.

Further investigations showed that betulin also lowered lipid levels in blood, liver, and fat tissue. Betulin also made the animals more sensitive to insulin. Mice with a mutation that makes them prone to develop atherosclerosis showed fewer plaques when treated with either lovastatin or betulin. ”Betulin has several major metabolic effects,” Song said. The researchers say that their findings suggest that betulin may have similar or even better effects than lovastatin, a member of the most widely prescribed drug class for treating high cholesterol.

For instance, in their studies betulin decreased lipids in liver and fat to a greater extent than lovastatin did. Betulin also improved insulin resistance through its effects on fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis. Song notes that betulin is a readily available compound and is already in use as a precursor in the manufacture of other drugs. Although betulin appears to have very low toxicity, he says future studies will need to further investigate the safety of betulin and its metabolic effects.

Researchers will also explore the possibility that a derivative of betulin might have even greater potency. ”That may be the path forward to move this clinically,” Song said.

Possible applications to humans are currently explored.

While the metabolic benefits are a new discovery it is important to point out that birch bark also has a history as remedy for its antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. “For hundreds of years birch bark, or birch bark extract, has been applied to a variety of illnesses or infections.” said Olaf Jonsek, founder of BetulinStore.com.

“For example American natives used birch bark to help heal wounds faster and to lower inflammation.” Birch bark tea is still used today treat stomach and intestinal problems or to help people with anxiety or low stress resistance. Birch bark extract is also found in skin care products as it is beneficial for irritated skin. The medical field is currently studying betulin as possible cancer treatment and as a remedy against HIV, tumors, tuberculosis and hepatitis.

While first studies show results, long term effects on humans have not been tested and it is not recommended to rely on betulin as the only medication against these illnesses. Betulin should not be consumed by pregnant or breastfeeding women, people that are sensitive to aspirin or by people with poor heart or kidney functions. “With the latest discovery of the metabolic benefits of betulin, we see a spike in demand from people that do not have time to work out but still want to burn more calories.” Jonsek said. “Other shoppers do work out occasionally but want to prevent diet-induced weight gain. We would like for the public to also realize the additional benefits, like reduced type-2 diabetes risk, limiting anxiety or lowering cholesterol.”

Betulin (lup-20(29)-ene-3beta,28-diol) is an abundant naturally occurring triterpene. It is commonly isolated from the bark of birch trees and forms up to 30% of the dry weight of the extract. Investigators at the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (China) worked with a mouse model that mimicked human obesity.Some of the animals were fed a high fat, Western-style diet. These mice were then treated with betulin, the cholesterol-lowering statin lovastatin, or a placebo (saline) for six weeks.

At the end of this period the animals’ weight, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity were determined. Results published in the January 2011 issue of the journal Cell Metabolism revealed that while both betulin and lovastatin restricted weight gain on the high-fat diet, betulin decreased lipids in liver and fat to a greater extent than lovastatin did.

Betulin also improved insulin resistance through its effects on fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis. The primary target of botulin activity was a group of regulatory proteins known as sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs). The critical feature of the SREBP pathway is the proteolytic release of a membrane-bound transcription factor, SREBP. Proteolytic cleavage frees it to move through the cytoplasm to the nucleus.

Once in the nucleus, SREBP can bind to specific DNA sequences (the sterol regulatory elements or SREs) that are found in the control regions of the genes that encode enzymes needed to make lipids. This binding to DNA leads to the increased transcription of the target genes and higher lipid levels. Betulin interferes with the SREBP pathway and decreases the biosynthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids. ”Our study shows that the SREBP pathway is a good target for several metabolic diseases,” said senior author Dr. Bao-Liang Song, professor of biochemistry and cell biology at the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences.

“We also identify a leading compound.” “Betulin has several major metabolic effects,” said Dr. Song.  ”Although betulin appears to have very low toxicity, future studies will need to further investigate the safety of betulin and its metabolic effects. We will also explore the possibility that a derivative of betulin might have even greater potency. That may be the path forward to move this clinically.”

Betulin is “abundant in birch bark”, according to the Chinese team, led by Dr Bao-Liang Song, from the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences. Its medical potential was discovered after the researchers screened a number of compounds in search of a drug that targeted key gene-activating proteins. Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) help to “switch on” genes for cholesterol, fatty acids and triglyceride blood fats.

Laboratory cell studies showed that betulin lowered the activity of genes normally activated by SREBPs. Further work confirmed the beneficial effects of betulin in mice. Animals fed a high-fat Western diet were treated with betulin, the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin or an inactive salt solution for six weeks.

Compared with the inactive treatment, both drugs caused over-fed mice to gain less weight while working in different ways. Betulin led the animals to burn up more calories while lovastatin reduced the amount of fatty molecules called lipids taken up from the diet. Betulin also lowered lipids in blood, liver, and fatty tissue, and made the mice more sensitive to the sugar uptake hormone insulin.

Heart disease-prone mice suffered less atherosclerosis – the build-up of harmful hard deposits on artery walls – when treated with either betulin or lovastatin. Reporting their findings in the journal Cell Metabolism, the researchers wrote: “These data support the notion that inhibition of SREBP pathway may be useful strategy to treat Type II diabetes and atherosclerosis. Betulin can serve as a leading compound for pharmacological control of metabolic diseases.”

In mice, the compound known as betulin lowered cholesterol, helped prevent diet-induced obesity, and improved insulin sensitivity. Betulin-treated mice were also more resistant to developing atherosclerotic plaques in their arteries.

Betulin works by targeting so-called sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), transcription factors that are known to be important for activating the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, fatty acids, and triglycerides. ”Our study shows that the SREBP pathway is a good target for several metabolic diseases,” said Bao-Liang Song of the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences. In the new study, Song and his colleagues treated mice on a high-fat, Western diet with betulin, the cholesterol-lowering statin known as lovastatin, or a placebo (saline) for 6 weeks.

Compared to placebo, both drugs led the mice to gain less weight on the high-fat diet, though by different means. Betulin caused the animals to burn more calories while lovastatin appeared to reduce the amount of lipid taken up from the diet. Further investigations showed that betulin also lowered lipid levels in blood, liver, and fat tissue.

Betulin also made the animals more sensitive to insulin. The researchers have said that their findings suggest betulin may have similar or even better effects than lovastatin, a member of the most widely prescribed drug class for treating high cholesterol. The findings were reported in the journal Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication.

And betulin works particularly better than the statin drug lovastatin at lowering cholesterol, except without the harmful side effects.

Dr. Bao-Liang Song and his colleagues from SIBC tested the effects of betulin and found that it specifically targets the genes responsible for making harmful blood fats like triglycerides by effectively lowering their activity and protecting against disease.

And since the compound is “abundant in birch bark,” it has the potential to revolutionize the way blood fat levels are managed. Concerning cholesterol levels, betulin was shown to lower lipid levels more effectively than lovastatin. And insulin-wise, betulin helps keep artery walls free and clear of build-ups and blockages, also known as atherosclerosis.

Long used as an herbal remedy, betulin has been investigated for many other medicinal purposes as well: -The medicinal mushroom Chaga, for example, is rich in betulinic acid.

An ingredient found in abundance in birch bark appears to have an array of metabolic benefits, according to new studies in animals that are reported in the January issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication. In mice, the compound known as betulin lowered cholesterol, helped prevent diet-induced obesity, and improved insulin sensitivity. Betulin-treated mice were also more resistant to developing atherosclerotic plaques in their arteries.

Betulin works by targeting so-called sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), transcription factors that are known to be important for activating the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, fatty acids, and triglycerides. ”Our study shows that the SREBP pathway is a good target for several metabolic diseases,” said Bao-Liang Song of the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences. ”We also identify a leading compound.” (Photo: Wikipedia) In the new study, Song and his colleagues went in search of a compound that might act directly on SREBP.

That chemical screen turned up betulin as a top contender. They then confirmed in cells that betulin lowered the activity of genes that are normally switched “on” by SREBP. It also lowered lipid levels within cells.

Song’s team then treated mice on a high-fat, Western diet with betulin, the cholesterol-lowering statin known as lovastatin, or a placebo (saline) for 6 weeks. Compared to placebo, both drugs led the mice to gain less weight on the high-fat diet, though by different means. Betulin caused the animals to burn more calories while lovastatin appeared to reduce the amount of lipid taken up from the diet.

Further investigations showed that betulin also lowered lipid levels in blood, liver, and fat tissue. Betulin also made the animals more sensitive to insulin. Mice with a mutation that makes them prone to develop atherosclerosis showed fewer plaques when treated with either lovastatin or betulin.

“Betulin has several major metabolic effects,” Song said. The researchers say that their findings suggest that betulin may have similar or even better effects than lovastatin, a member of the most widely prescribed drug class for treating high cholesterol. For instance, in their studies betulin decreased lipids in liver and fat to a greater extent than lovastatin did. Betulin also improved insulin resistance through its effects on fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis. Song notes that betulin is a readily available compound and is already in use as a precursor in the manufacture of other drugs.

Although betulin appears to have very low toxicity, he says future studies will need to further investigate the safety of betulin and its metabolic effects. Researchers will also explore the possibility that a derivative of betulin might have even greater potency. ”That may be the path forward to move this clinically,” Song said.

In animal studies, it lowered cholesterol levels, helped prevent obesity, and reduced the risk of diabetes. Betulin is “abundant in birch bark” according to a team from the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences in China. The researchers screened a number of compounds in search of a drug that targeted key gene-activating proteins.

These proteins help “switch on” genes for cholesterol, fatty acids, and triglyceride blood fats. But laboratory studies showed that betulin lowered the activity of the genes. Further research suggested that betulin may be more effective than lovastatin, one of the statins prescribed for controlling cholesterol.

Betulin decreased levels of fatty molecules called lipids in the liver to a greater extent than lovastatin.  It also made the body respond better to insulin, and reduced the build-up of harmful deposits on artery walls, known as atherosclerosis. Dr Bao-Liang Song, who led the study, said more research might yield even more promising derivatives.

In mice, the compound known as betulin lowered cholesterol, helped prevent diet-induced obesity, and improved insulin sensitivity. Betulin-treated mice were also more resistant to developing atherosclerotic plaques in their arteries.

Betulin works by targeting so-called sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), transcription factors that are known to be important for activating the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, fatty acids, and triglycerides. “Our study shows that the SREBP pathway is a good target for several metabolic diseases,” said Bao-Liang Song of the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences.

“We also identify a leading compound.” In the new study, Song and his colleagues went in search of a compound that might act directly on SREBP. That chemical screen turned up betulin as a top contender. They then confirmed in cells that betulin lowered the activity of genes that are normally switched “on” by SREBP. It also lowered lipid levels within cells.

Song’s team then treated mice on a high-fat, Western diet with betulin, the cholesterol-lowering statin known as lovastatin, or a placebo (saline) for 6 weeks. Compared to placebo, both drugs led the mice to gain less weight on the high-fat diet, though by different means. Betulin caused the animals to burn more calories while lovastatin appeared to reduce the amount of lipid taken up from the diet. Further investigations showed that betulin also lowered lipid levels in blood, liver, and fat tissue. Betulin also made the animals more sensitive to insulin. Mice with a mutation that makes them prone to develop atherosclerosis showed fewer plaques when treated with either lovastatin or betulin.

“Betulin has several major metabolic effects,” Song said. The researchers say that their findings suggest that betulin may have similar or even better effects than lovastatin, a member of the most widely prescribed drug class for treating high cholesterol. For instance, in their studies betulin decreased lipids in liver and fat to a greater extent than lovastatin did. Betulin also improved insulin resistance through its effects on fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis. Song notes that betulin is a readily available compound and is already in use as a precursor in the manufacture of other drugs.

Although betulin appears to have very low toxicity, he says future studies will need to further investigate the safety of betulin and its metabolic effects. Researchers will also explore the possibility that a derivative of betulin might have even greater potency. ”That may be the path forward to move this clinically,” Song said.

The compound, Betulin, which is found in abundance in the bark of birch trees, is able to target genes that produce fats in the blood stream.

In trials it has helped to prevent obesity induced by dietary factors as well as reducing the risk of both diabetes and heart disease.

Mice that were fed an atypical high-fat diet when then treated with betulin.

The compound caused the mice led to increase the rate at which they burned calories.

When treated with betulin, mice that were more susceptible to heart disease suffered from less occurrences of atherosclerosis, which is the accumulation of harmful deposits on artery walls.

They also found the mice became more resistant to plaque buildup in the arteries that can lead to heart attack.

According to Bao-Liang Song of the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, betulin has several benefits for metabolic health because it targets sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) that activate cholesterol, fatty acid and triglyceride biosynthesis.

He says, “Our study shows that the SREBP pathway is a good target for several metabolic diseases.

“In the study Liang’s team treated mice fed a high fat Western diet with either betulin or the cholesterol lowering drug lovastatin or a placebo.

When the researchers compared the effects of betulin in birch bark to the cholesterol lowering drug lovastatin, they noted both prevented weight gain in the mice.

However, the way they worked differed – betulin caused the mice to burn more calories while lovastatin inhibited the uptake of cholesterol (lipids) in the diet and made them more sensitive to insulin that could block diabetes.

The researchers concluded betulin that comes from birch bark could be better than the pharmaceutical drug lovastatin used to treat the effects of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms that include decreased insulin sensitivity, high cholesterol and increased abdominal girth.

More studies are needed to ensure betulin is not toxic, but the scientists say the compound may have clinical applications.