6533b871fe1ef96bd12d232e

RESEARCH PRODUCT

New insights into the bioactivity of cucurbitacins

subject

description

The cucurbitacins are a group of tetracyclic triterpenoids derived from the cucurbitane skeleton and found primarily in the Cucurbitaceae family. These triterpenoids, present in free or glycosidic form, are generally responsible for the bitter taste of the plants that contain them and are probably the principal cause of the antifeedant effects observed for such plants. Several plants used in traditional medicine to treat both inflammatory diseases as well as various types of tumors are rich in cucurbitacins, a fact which has given rise to several studies concerning their potential use as anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents. Nevertheless, since many cucurbitacins are extremely toxic, relatively few papers have dealt with their pharmacological activity. Recently, however, the relationship between the toxicity of a compound and its chemical pattern of substitution has been established, thus allowing for a more in-depth understanding of this class of triterpenes. In the present review, we provide a compilation of all the studies published in the last ten years on the pharmacological and biological effects of cucurbitacins, focusing principally on their pharmacological properties, especially their anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects.