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Current Bioactive Compounds

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1573-4072
ISSN (Online): 1875-6646

Review Article

Cucurbitacin: Unveiling its Role as Phytomolecule in Health Benefits

In Press, (this is not the final "Version of Record"). Available online 07 June, 2024
Author(s): Reshmi Paul, Sourav Nag, Sumanta Mondal*, Naresh Panigrahi, Partha Roy, Santosh Kumar Sahoo, Raja S and Abu Mohiuddin
Published on: 07 June, 2024

Article ID: e070624230855

DOI: 10.2174/0115734072316509240530044415

Price: $95

Abstract

In recent scientific studies, a variety of phytochemicals, including carotenoids, polyphenols, isoprenoids, phytosterols, saponins, and dietetic fibers, besides polysaccharides, have been linked to beneficial health effects, which include reducing the risk of diabetes, obesity, and cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and other conditions. Squash, pumpkin, cucumber, and melons are just a few examples of the Cucurbitaceae family plants that contain cucurbitacins, highly oxygenated tetracyclic triterpenes. Since ancient times, various traditional remedies have been made from plants that contain cucurbitacins. Several cucurbitacins (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, J, K, L, O, P, Q, R, S) have an extensive assortment of bioactivities, including hepatoprotective activity, liver protection, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anti-diabetic properties. Cucurbitacins, for instance, have a well-known anticancer effect. Specific reports suggest that cucurbitacins stimulate apoptosis via the JAK/STAT3 pathway. Through cyclin inhibition, cucurbitacins may inhibit the cell cycle. Besides, they expedite autophagy while preventing cancer cells from migrating and infecting other tissues. Cucurbitacins have been categorized as signal transducers and activators of transcription. It is soundly acknowledged that the plant-based compound cucurbitacin B (CuB) has insecticidal and repellent properties. CuB has been shown to have non-specific toxicity and limited bioavailability in studies evaluating its toxicity and pharmacokinetic characteristics. Hence, we aimed to concentrate on the numerous properties of cucurbitacins in this article, including their chemistry, an analysis of biosynthesis, several types of bioactivities, and studies on their toxicity.


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