Cucurbitacin is any of a class of biochemical compounds that some plants — notably members of the family Cucurbitaceae, which includes the common pumpkins and gourds — produce and which function as a defence against herbivores. Cucurbitacins are chemically classified as triterpenes, formally derived from cucurbitane, a triterpene hydrocarbon—specifically, from the unsaturated variant cucurbita-5-ene, or 19-(10→9β)-abeo-10α-lanost-5-ene. They often occur as glycosides. They and their derivatives have been found in many plant families, in some mushrooms and even in some marine mollusks.
Momordicin I, or 3,7,23-trihydroxycucurbitan-5,24-dien-19-al, is a chemical compound found in the leaves of the bitter melon vine, possibly responsible for its reputed medicinal properties.
Momordicin is one of several compounds found in the bitter melon vine, including:
Momordicoside is any of several related cucurbitane triterpenoid glycosides that can be extracted from the bitter melon vine (Momordica charantia). They include:
Cucurbitane is a chemical compound with formula C
30H
54. It is a polycyclic hydrocarbon, specifically a triterpene. It is an isomer of lanostane, from which it differs by the formal shift of a methyl group from the 10 to the 9β position in the standard steroid numbering scheme.
A kuguacin is one of several chemical compounds isolated from the bitter melon vine by J.-C. Chen and others.
A momordicine is any of several compounds found in the bitter melon vine, Momordica charantia. They are glycosides of cucurbitane derivatives. They include
Neokuguaglucoside is a chemical compound with formula C
42H
66O
14, isolated from the fruit of the bitter melon vine, where it occurs at 23 mg/35 kg. It is a triterpene glucoside with the cucurbitane skeleton. It is a white powder, soluble in methanol and butanol.
Endecaphyllacin is either of two similar compounds found in certain plants, such as Hemsleya endecaphylla.
Hemslecin is any of several compounds obtained from plants of the Helmseya genus, which are used in Asian folk medicine. They are triterpene derivatives, specifically with the cucurbitane skeleton, related to cucurbitacin F.
Perseapicroside is any one of several chemical compounds isolated from certain plants, notably Persea mexicana. They can be seen as derivatives of the triterpene hydrocarbon cucurbitane, more specifically from cucurbitacin F.
Scandenoside is any one of several chemical compounds isolated from certain plants, notably Hemsleya panacis-scandens. They can be seen as derivatives of the triterpene hydrocarbon cucurbitane, more specifically from cucurbitacin F.
Datiscoside is any one of several chemical compounds isolated from certain plants, notably Datisca glomerata. They can be seen as derivatives of the triterpene hydrocarbon cucurbitane, more specifically from cucurbitacin F.
Khekadaengoside is any one of several chemical compounds isolated from certain plants, notably Trichosanthes tricuspidata. They can be seen as derivatives of the triterpene hydrocarbon cucurbitane, more specifically from cucurbitacins H and L.
Spinoside is any one of several chemical compounds isolated from certain plants, notably Desfontainia spinosa. They can be seen as derivatives of the triterpene hydrocarbon cucurbitane, more specifically from cucurbitacin H.
Brydioside is any one of several chemical compounds isolated from certain plants, notably Bryonia dioica. They can be seen as derivatives of the triterpene hydrocarbon cucurbitane, more specifically from cucurbitacin Lor 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin I.
Bryoamaride is a chemical compound isolated from certain plants, notably Bryonia dioica. It can be seen as a derivative of the triterpene hydrocarbon cucurbitane, more specifically from cucurbitacin L or 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin I.
