A kuguacin is one of several chemical compounds isolated from the bitter melon vine (Momordica charantia, kǔguā in Chinese) by J.-C. Chen and others.[1]

Kuguacins are cucurbitacins, formally derived from the triterpene hydrocarbon cucurbitane. They include:

Kuguacins F-S can be extracted with ethanol from the stems and leaves of M. charantia. Kuguacins I, J, and Q are artifacts of the extraction process. Kuguacin R is obtained as mixture of two epimers. In this process one also obtains momordicine I,[3] kuguacin E, 5β,19-epoxycucurbita-6,23-diene-3β,19,25-triol,[4] karavilagenin D,[5] 3β,7β,25-trihydroxycucurbita-5,(23E)-dien-19-al,[6] and 3β,7β-dihydroxy-25-methoxycucurbita-5,(23E)-dien-19-al[6] In vitro tests showed weak anti-HIV activity for kuguacins F-S, especially kuguacin Q and kuguacin S.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Jian-Chao Chen, Wu-Qing Liu, Lu Lu, Ming-Hua Qiu, Yong-Tang Zheng, Liu-Meng Yang, Xian-Min Zhang, Lin Zhou and Zhong-Rong Li (2009), "Kuguacins F–S, cucurbitane triterpenoids from Momordica charantia". Phytochemistry, volume 70, issue 1, pages 133-140 doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2008.10.011
  2. ^ a b c d e J. C. Chen, R. R. Tian, M. H. Qiu, L. Lu, Y. T. Zheng, Z. Q. Zhang (2008), "Trinorcucurbitane and cucurbitane triterpenoids from the roots of Momordica charantia." Phytochemistry, volume 69, pages 1043–1048
  3. ^ M. Yasuda, M. Iwamoto, H. Okabe, T. Yamauchi (1984), "Structures of momordicines I, II and III, the bitter principles in the leaves and vines of Momordica charantia L. Chem. Pharm. Bull., volume 32, pages 2044–2047.
  4. ^ Dulcie A. Mulholland, Vikash Sewram, Roy Osborne, Karl H. Pegel and Joseph D. Connolly (1997), "Cucurbitane triterpenoids from the leaves of Momordica foetida." Phytochemistry, volume 45, issue 2, pages 391-395. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00814-X
  5. ^ H. Matsuda, S. Nakamura, T. Murakami, M. Yoshikawa (2007). "Structures of new cucurbitane-type triterpenes and glycosides, karavilagenins D and E, and karavilosides VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, and XI, from the fruit of Momordica charantia." Heterocycles,volume 71, pages 331–341.
  6. ^ a b Majekodunmi Fatope, Yoshio Takeda, Hiroyasu Yamashita, Hikaru Okabe, and Tatsuo Yamauchi (1990), "New cucurbitane triterpenoids from Momordica charantia." Journal of Natural Products, volume 53, issue 6, pages 1491-1497.