Cucurbalsaminol A or cucurbita-5,23(E)-diene-3β,12β,25-triol, is a

chemical compound A chemical compound is a chemical substance composed of many identical molecules (or molecular entities) containing atoms from more than one chemical element held together by chemical bonds. A molecule consisting of atoms of only one element ...

with formula , found in the

Balsam apple Balsam apple may refer to: * ''Clusia rosea'', a tree species found in America * ''Momordica balsamina'', a vine species found in Africa * ''Momordica charantia'' (bitter melon), a vine grown for its bitter and edible fruit * ''Echinocystis lobata' ...

vine (''

Momordica balsamina ''Momordica balsamina'' is a tendril-bearing annual vine native to the tropical regions of Africa, introduced and invasive in Asia, Australia, Central America, and North America, where they have been found in some parts of Florida. In 1810, Tho ...

''). It is a

cucurbitane Cucurbitane is a class of chemical compounds with formula ( CAS number 65441-59-0). It is a polycyclic hydrocarbon, specifically triterpene. It is also an isomer of lanostane (specifically 19(10→9β)-abeolanostane), from which it differs by ...

-type

triterpenoid Triterpenes are a class of chemical compounds composed of three terpene units with the molecular formula C30H48; they may also be thought of as consisting of six isoprene units. Animals, plants and fungi all produce triterpenes, including squale ...

, related to

cucurbitacin Cucurbitacin is a class of biochemical compounds that some plants – notably members of the pumpkin and gourd family, Cucurbitaceae – produce and which function as a defence against herbivores. Cucurbitacins are chemically classified as trit ...

, isolated by C. Ramalhete and others in 2009. Cucurbalsaminol A is an amorphous powder soluble in

methanol Methanol (also called methyl alcohol and wood spirit, amongst other names) is an organic chemical and the simplest aliphatic alcohol, with the formula C H3 O H (a methyl group linked to a hydroxyl group, often abbreviated as MeOH). It is a ...

and

ethyl acetate Ethyl acetate ( systematically ethyl ethanoate, commonly abbreviated EtOAc, ETAC or EA) is the organic compound with the formula , simplified to . This colorless liquid has a characteristic sweet smell (similar to pear drops) and is used in glues ...

but insoluble in ''n''-hexane. Unlike

Cucurbalsaminol B Cucurbalsaminol B or 7β-methoxycucurbita-5,23(E)-diene-3β,12β,25-triol, is a chemical compound with formula , found in the Balsam apple vine (''Momordica balsamina''). It is a cucurbitane-type triterpenoid, related to cucurbitacin, isolated b ...

, it is not cytotoxic.

References

{{reflist Triterpenes Polyols

See also

References