DSC and FTIR study on the interaction between pentacyclic triterpenoid lupeol and DPPC membrane

Natural products are a great resource for physiologically active substances. It is widely recognized that a major percentage of current medications are derived from natural compounds or their synthetic analogues. Triterpenoids are widespread in nature and can prevent cancer formation and progression. Despite considerable interest in these triterpenoids, their interactions with lipid bilayers still need to be thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study is to examine the interactions of lupeol, a pentacyclic triterpenoid, with model membranes composed of 1,2‑dipalmitoyl‑sn‑glycerol‑3‑phosphocholine (DPPC) by using non-invasive techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The DSC study demonstrated that the incorporation of lupeol into DPPC membranes shifts the L