Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40995345›Full record

ReviewRSC advances2025

Advances and challenges in betulinic acid therapeutics and delivery systems for breast cancer prevention and treatment.

Cyril Tlou Selepe, Khanyisile Sheer Dhlamini, Lesego Tshweu, Lusisizwe Kwezi, Bathabile Ramalapa, Suprakas Sinha Ray

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in RSC advances, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Frontiers in microbiology · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Cyril Tlou SelepeDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg Doornfontein 2028 Johannesburg South Africa rsuprakas@csir.co.za.
Khanyisile Sheer DhlaminiDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg Doornfontein 2028 Johannesburg South Africa rsuprakas@csir.co.za.
Lesego TshweuCentre for Nanostructures and Advanced Materials, DSTI-CSIR Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Pretoria 0001 South Africa BRamalapa@csir.co.za.
Lusisizwe KweziBiomanufacturing Technology Demonstration Group, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Pretoria 0001 South Africa.
Bathabile RamalapaCentre for Nanostructures and Advanced Materials, DSTI-CSIR Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Pretoria 0001 South Africa BRamalapa@csir.co.za.
Suprakas Sinha RayDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg Doornfontein 2028 Johannesburg South Africa rsuprakas@csir.co.za.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0007-2595

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. Due to limited treatment options for patients with advanced BC, preventive and innovative therapeutic strategies are essential to combat this disease. Therefore, finding safe and effective anticancer treatments remains a significant challenge in the 21st century. Plant-derived triterpenoids, widely used for medicinal purposes, exhibit various biological activities. Most triterpenoids are cytotoxic to multiple tumor cells and demonstrate anticancer effects in preclinical animal models. One example is betulinic acid (BA), a natural product mainly extracted from the bark of birch trees. BA is a promising anti-tumor compound with numerous pharmacological properties. However, its poor water solubility limits its optimal therapeutic potential. Additionally, the low BA content in plants hampers large-scale production from these sources. To address these issues, extensive research has focused on producing BA through chemical synthesis and biotransformation. Furthermore, several BA derivatives have been developed through structural modifications, and various delivery systems have been created to improve solubility and enhance therapeutic efficacy. This review discusses recent advances and challenges related to BA and its derivatives in preventing and treating breast tumors, as well as the potential obstacles and future directions for improving delivery systems in BC therapy.

Identifiers

PMID40995345
PMCPMC12455583

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.