Cucurbitane-Type Triterpenoids from the Vines of Momordica charantia and Their Anti-inflammatory Activities.

Seven new cucurbitane-type triterpenoids, kuguaovins A-G ( 1 - 7 ), and five known ones were isolated from the rattans of wild Momordica charantia . Their structures were established by spectroscopic data analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR, IR, and MS techniques. The absolute configurations of the cucurbitanes were determined from NOESY data and partially by X-ray crystallographic analysis. In pharmacological studies, compounds 1 - 7 and 9 - 12 exhibited weak anti-inflammatory effects (IC ₅₀ = 15-35 μM), based on an anti-NO production assay.