Extraction of betulin from birch bark and study of its physico-chemical and pharmacological properties

Betulin-containing products were obtained in a yield of about 40% from absolutely dry birch bark. The content of betulin in the products was 74–75% or 85–89% depending on the presence of sodium or potassium hydroxide, respectively. The one-step method of extraction of high-purity betulin (97.7%) is presented. Betulin was identified by physic-chemical methods, i.e., elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy, and electron scanning microscopy. The thermal characteristics of betulin were also studied. It was shown that betulin exhibits gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, and capillary-strengthening properties.