title: Cucurbitacins and cucurbitane glycosides: structures and biological activities.
abstract: The natural cucurbitacins constitute a group of triterpenoid substances which are well-known for their bitterness and toxicity. Structurally, they are characterized by the tetracyclic cucurbitane nucleus skeleton, namely, 19-(10-->9beta)-abeo-10alpha-lanost-5-ene (also known as 9beta-methyl-19-norlanosta-5-ene), with a variety of oxygen substitutions at different positions. According to the characteristics of their structures, cucurbitacins are divided into twelve categories. The biological effects of the cucurbitacins are also covered.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, P.R. China.
authors: Jian Chao
authors: JC
authors: Chen
authors: Ming Hua
authors: MH
authors: Chiu
authors: Rui Lin
authors: RL
authors: Nie
authors: Geoffrey A
authors: GA
authors: Cordell
authors: Samuel X
authors: SX
authors: Qiu
mesh_terms: D001685:Biological Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006027:Glycosides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors; D006027:Glycosides; D014315:Triterpenes; C041246:cucurbitacin B