Cucurbitane-type triterpenoids from the leaves of Momordica charantia

Abstract

Phytochemical investigation of the ethanol extract from the leaves of Momordica charantia L. led to the isolation of two new (1, 2) and four known (3–6) cucurbitane-type triterpenoids. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive analyses of spectroscopic data including IR, UV, MS, 1D, and 2D NMR. Also the absolute configurations of momordicines I (3) and II (4) were determined for the first time by application of the modified Mosher's method, acid hydrolysis, and GC analysis.

Keywords::

• Momordica charantia
• Cucurbitaceae
• cucurbitane-type triterpenoids
• absolute configuration

Acknowledgments

This study was carried out with the support from the program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project Nos: 81273390 and 81202429) and the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (No. S2013020012864).