Hemslecin is any of several compounds obtained from plants of the genus ''
Hemsleya
''Hemsleya'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Eastern Himalayas to southern China and Papuasia. It is native to the countries of Assam (in India), Bismarck Archipelago (island group, part ...
'', which are used in
Asia
Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...
n
folk medicine. They are
triterpene derivatives, specifically with the
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 ...
skeleton, related to
cucurbitacin F
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 t ...
.
[Jian-Chao Chen, Gao-Hong Zhang, Zhong-Quan Zhang, Ming-Hua Qiu, Yong-Tang Zheng, Liu-Meng Yang, Kai-Bei Yu (2008), "Octanorcucurbitane and Cucurbitane Triterpenoids from the Tubers of ''Hemsleya endecaphylla'' with HIV-1 Inhibitory Activity". ''J. Nat. Prod.'' volume 71, pages 153–155 ][Jian Chao Chen, Ming Hua Chiu, Rui Lin Nie, Geoffrey A. Cordell and Samuel X. Qiu (2005), "Cucurbitacins and cucurbitane glycosides: structures and biological activities" ''Natural Product Reports'', volume 22, pages 386-399 ]
The hemslecins include:
*
Hemslecin A Hemslecin is any of several compounds obtained from plants of the genus ''Hemsleya'', which are used in Asian folk medicine. They are triterpene derivatives, specifically with the cucurbitane skeleton, related to cucurbitacin, cucurbitacin F.Jian-C ...
, 25-acetoxy-23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin F, from ''
Hemsleya endecaphylla
''Hemsleya'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Eastern Himalayas to southern China and Papuasia. It is native to the countries of Assam (in India), Bismarck Archipelago (island group, part ...
''
[ and from '' Helmseya amabilis''][
* ]Hemslecin B Hemslecin is any of several compounds obtained from plants of the genus ''Hemsleya'', which are used in Asian folk medicine. They are triterpene derivatives, specifically with the cucurbitane skeleton, related to cucurbitacin, cucurbitacin F.Jian-C ...
, 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin F, from ''Hemsleya endecaphylla''[
* ]Hemslecin C Hemslecin is any of several compounds obtained from plants of the genus ''Hemsleya'', which are used in Asian folk medicine. They are triterpene derivatives, specifically with the cucurbitane skeleton, related to cucurbitacin, cucurbitacin F.Jian-C ...
, synthesized from hemslecin A[
* ]Hemslecin D Hemslecin is any of several compounds obtained from plants of the genus ''Hemsleya'', which are used in Asian folk medicine. They are triterpene derivatives, specifically with the cucurbitane skeleton, related to cucurbitacin, cucurbitacin F.Jian-C ...
from ''Helmseya lijiangensis''[
* ]Hemslecin E Hemslecin is any of several compounds obtained from plants of the genus ''Hemsleya'', which are used in Asian folk medicine. They are triterpene derivatives, specifically with the cucurbitane skeleton, related to cucurbitacin F.Jian-Chao Chen, Gao- ...
from ''Helmseya lijiangensis''[
* ]Hemslecin F Hemslecin is any of several compounds obtained from plants of the genus ''Hemsleya'', which are used in Asian folk medicine. They are triterpene derivatives, specifically with the cucurbitane skeleton, related to cucurbitacin F.Jian-Chao Chen, Gao- ...
from ''Helmseya lijiangensis''[
* ]Hemslecin G Hemslecin is any of several compounds obtained from plants of the genus ''Hemsleya'', which are used in Asian folk medicine. They are triterpene derivatives, specifically with the cucurbitane skeleton, related to cucurbitacin F.Jian-Chao Chen, Gao- ...
from ''Helmseya gigantha''[
Hemslecins A and B have ]antibacterial
An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the treatment and prevention of ...
properties, and have been proven to be effective against infectious diseases such as enteritis, bronchitis, acute tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils in the upper part of the throat. It can be acute or chronic. Acute tonsillitis typically has a rapid onset. Symptoms may include sore throat, fever, enlargement of the tonsils, trouble swallowing, and en ...
, and bacillary dysentery
Dysentery (UK pronunciation: , US: ), historically known as the bloody flux, is a type of gastroenteritis that results in bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. Complications ...
.[
]
References
{{Chemistry index
Triterpenes