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Cucurbitacin II a: A review of phytochemistry and pharmacology
Author(s) -
Zeng Yijia,
Wang Jin,
Huang Qinwan,
Ren Yuanyuan,
Li Tingna,
Zhang Xiaorui,
Yao Renchuan,
Sun Jilin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.7077
Subject(s) - phytochemistry , creb , pharmacology , biology , apoptosis , chemistry , traditional medicine , medicine , biochemistry , transcription factor , gene
Cucurbitacin IIa was first found in plants and it belongs to tetracyclo triterpenoids. It is one of the most important active components in cucurbitaceae plants. Studies have found that cucurbitacin IIa has a variety of pharmacological effects, such as antitumor, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, antihepatitis B virus, inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus replication, and antidepressant effect. However, the underlying mechanisms, intracellular targets, and structure–activity relationships of cucurbitacin IIa remain to be completely elucidated. This review summarizes the current advances concerning the phytochemistry and pharmacology of cucurbitacin IIa. Electronic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and CNKI were used to find relevant information about cucurbitacin IIa using keywords such as “Cucurbitacin IIa,” “Pharmacology,” and “Phytochemistry.” These pharmacological effects involve the actin cytoskeleton aggregation, the regulation of JAK2/STAT3, ERBB‐MAPK, CaMKII α/CREB/BDNF signal pathways, as well as the regulation of survivin, caspases, and other cell cycles, apoptosis, autophagy‐related cytokines, and kinases. It has high development and use value.