Momordin (saponin)

Momordin is one of several saponins derived from oleanolic acid, a triterpenoid. These chemical compounds are found in some plants of the genus Momordica , which includes the bitter melon (M. charantia) and the balsam apple (M. balsamina), as well as in other Asian herbal medicine plants such as Kochia scoparia and Ampelopsis radix . ^{[1] [2]}

Momordins include:

• Momordin I, oleanolic acid 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl(1→3)-β-D-glucuronopyranoside. A white powder that decomposes at 235–240 °C. Found in the root of Momordica cochinchinensis where it constitutes 10% of the dried methanol extract. ^{[2] [3]}
• Momordin Ia, from M. cochinchinensis. ^[4]
• Momordin Ib, from M. cochinchinensis. ^[4]
• Momordin Ic or (3β)-17-carboxy-28-norolean-12-en-3-yl 3'-O-(β-D-xylopyranosyl)-β-D-glucuronide (C
  _⁴¹H
  _⁶⁴O
  _¹³), CAS number 96990-18-0. It is obtained as colorless fine crystals that decompose at 240 °C. It inhibits gastric emptying in mice. ^{[1] [5]}
• Momordin Id, from M. cochinchinensis. ^[4]
• Momordin Ie, CAS 96158-13-3. ^[6]
• Momordin II, the 28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside of momordin I. Colorless needles, soluble in methanol, that melt at 240−245 °C. Also from M. cochinchinensis; identical to hemsloside Ma 1 from Hemsleya macrosperma and H. chinensis ^[2]
• Momordin IIa, from M. cochinchinensis. ^[4]
• Momordin IIb, from M. cochinchinensis. ^[4]
• Momordin IIc, either the same as oleanic acid ^[7] or (quinoside D)[β-D-glucopyranosyl 3-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)] oleanolate] ^[8]
• Momordin IId, from M. cochinchinensis. ^[4]
• Momordin IIe, CAS 96158-12-2. ^[9]
• Momordin III, 3β-hydroxy-11α, 12α-epoxy-olean-28,13-olide 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl(1→3)-β-D-glucuronopyranoside. Also from M. cochinchinensis. ^[2]

See also

• Momordin (protein), unrelated enzymes (proteins) from Momordica and other plants.

References

1. Matsuda, H.; Li, Y.; Yamahara, J.; Yoshikawa, M. (1999). "Inhibition of gastric emptying by triterpene saponin, momordin Ic, in mice: Roles of blood glucose, capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves, and central nervous system". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 289 (2): 729–734. PMID   10215646.
2. Iwamoto, M.; Okabe, H.; Yamauchi, T. (1985). "Studies on the constituents of Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng. II. Isolation and characterization of the root saponins, Momordins I, II and III". Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 33: 1–7. doi: 10.1248/cpb.33.1 .
3. Juhyung Lee; Chi-Hoon Park; Wook-Hwan Kim; Yun Ha Hwang; Kyungchae jeong & Chul-Hak Yang (2006). "Inhibitory effects of momordin I derivatives on the formation of Fos-Jun-AP-1 DNA complex". Bull. Korean Chem. Soc. 27 (4): 535. doi: 10.5012/bkcs.2006.27.4.535 . ISSN   0253-2964.
4. Khesort Nantachit; Patoomratana Tuchinda (2009). "Antimicrobial Activity of Hexane and Dichloromethane Extracts from Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng Leaves" (PDF). Thai Pharmaceutical and Health Science Journal. 4 (1): 15–20. ISSN   1905-3460. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-24. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
5. Kim, N. Y.; Lee, M. K.; Park, M. J.; Kim, S. J.; Park, H. J.; Choi, J. W.; Kim, S. H.; Cho, S. Y.; Lee, J. S. (2005). "Momordin Ic and Oleanolic Acid from Kochiae Fructus Reduce Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats". Journal of Medicinal Food. 8 (2): 177–183. doi:10.1089/jmf.2005.8.177. PMID   16117609.
6. Momordin Ie catalog entry at Trading Chem. Accessed 2011-01-01.
7. Momordin IIc catalog entry Archived 2011-01-06 at the Wayback Machine from NextBio. Accessed on 2011-01-01.
8. Simon, A. S.; Tóth, G. B.; Duddeck, H.; Soliman, H. S. M.; Mahmoud, I. I.; Samir, H. (2006). "Glycosides fromBougainvillea glabra". Natural Product Research. 20 (1): 63–67. doi:10.1080/14786410500162351. PMID   16286311. S2CID   26781556.
9. Momordin IIe catalog page at Look Chemical. Accessed on 2011-01-01.