Cucurbitacins pharmacological activity

Some active species have been studied and their pharmacological activity confirmed in different experimental models. In general, the active fractions of such plants were those containing cucurbitacins, as demonstrated by Rios et al. [10] in their work with Cayaponia tayuya roots. This species is used in the Amazon region of South America as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-rheumatic agent while the extracts of this species are widely employed in the treatment of skin disorders such as dermatosis and other irritations. The chloroform fraction obtained from the active root methanol extract was found to be more active than the ethyl acetate and butanol fractions. Subsequent phytochemical analysis demonstrated that the chloroform fraction is rich in cucurbitacins, whereas the ethyl acetate and butanol fractions are principally comprised of C-glycosil flavonoids [10]. 

The dichloromethane extract from Wilbrandia ebracteata (p.o.) significantly reduced the paw elevation time (1 mg/kg) and cell influx (10 mg/kg) in zymosan-induced arthritis in rats. The same extract inhibited COX-2 activity, as measured by PGE2 production, without affecting that of COX-1. Moreover, nitrite release was clearly and significantly reduced at a dose of 10 mg/kg (p.o.). The analysis of the pharmacological data, together with the HPLC analysis of the extracts, points to an anti-inflammatory effect based on an associated reduction in nitric oxide (NO) release and COX-2 inhibition by the cucurbitacins... 

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