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.

Keywords: Cucurbitaceae, cucurbitacins, oxygenated tetracyclic triterpenes, bioactivities, cell cycle, polysaccharides.