Cucumis sativus Cucurbitacins

Cucumis sativus L. Huang Gua (Cucumber) (leaf, fruit, seed) Arginine, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, cucurbitacins, fructose, galactose, isoquercitrin, mannose, 2,6-nonadienol, rutin, linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, sterol.50351 Diuretic, purgative, vermifuge, pulp can be used for bums, scalds, and skin ailments. 

Cucurbitacin is a bitter-tasting principle that can be isolated from members of the family Cucurbitaceae, such as cucumber Cucumis sativus) and melon (Cucumis melo L.). In particular, cucurbitacin149 and momordicine,150 which have an intensely bitter taste, are contained abundantly in Momordica charantia (bitter melon in English, go-yaa in Okinawa, Japan), which people enjoy due to its bitterness. There are more than 18 kinds of cucurbitacin, and among them cucurbitacin B is a typical component. It has been reported that cucurbitacin exhibits anticancer activity.1 1 In addition, it is used for the treatment of hepatic disease in traditional Chinese medicine. It is also found in some herbal teas. 

Cucurbitacin C Cucumis sativus (bitter cucumber) Bitter [toxic]... 

The seed oil of Cucumis sativus (Cucurbitaceae) contains (51) and (52) in addition to other known 4methyl compounds.39 Momordicosides A—E from the seeds of Momordica charantia (Cucurbitaceae) are based on the sapogenins (53)—(56). The structure and stereochemistry of compound (53) were established by X-ray analysis.40 These cucurbitacins are notable for the absence of an oxygen function... 

There also appears to be a quantitative relationship between cucurbitacin C content in Cucumis sativus and spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) resistance [86],... 

The name of about 50 naturally abundant cucurbitanes stems from Cucurbitaceae, the Latin term of cucurbitaceous plants such as cucumbers and pumpkins, known since antiquity for their beneficial and toxic properties. One of the most frequently isolated representatives is the bitter substance (+)-cucurbitacin B from Phormium tenax and Ecballium elaterium (Cucurbitaceae), also found in Iberis species (Cru-ciferae), Euphorbiaceae and Scrophulariaceae. (+)-Cucurbitacin F from Cucumis angolensis and C. dinteri is reported to inhibit the growth of human tumor cells. Toxic cucurbitacines shape the unpleasant bitter taste of salads prepared from spoiled cucumbers Cucumis sativus some representatives are reported to be antihypertonic, antirheumatic, and also active against HIV. 

Seedlings of cucumber, Cucumis sativus, converted the triterpene (51) into cucurbitacin C (52) microsomal fractions from seedlings of Cucurbita maxima converted squalene 2,3-epoxide into 10a-cucurbita-5,24-dien-33-ol. Neither parkeol (53) (Fig. 23.1), cycloartenol (3), 11-ketocycloartenol, or 24,25-dihydro-9a,lla-epoxyparkeol were incorporated significantly, and no products with a cu-curbitane skeleton were isolated (Balliano et al., 1983 Harrison, 1985). 

CSEI, 1104 CS syndrome, 4065 C-toxins, 55 (-)-cubenol, 2895 Cucumis sativus, 3587 Cucurbitacin R, 2679 Cucurbita pepo, 4101 Culex... 

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