Cucurbitane triterpenoids from Momordica charantia.

Three new cucurbitane-type triterpenoid saponins, 23-O-beta-D-allopyranosyl-5beta,19-epoxycucurbita-6,24-diene-3beta,22(S),23(S)-triol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), 23-O-beta-D-allopyranosyl-5beta,19-epoxycucurbita-6,24-diene-3beta,22(S),23(S)-triol-3-O-beta-D-allopyranoside (2), and 23-O-beta-D-allopyranosyl-5beta,19-epoxycucurbita-6,24-diene-3beta,19(R), 22(S),23(S)-tetraol-3-O-beta-D-allopyranoside (3), named momordicoside M, N, and O, respectively, along with one known saponin momordicoside L (4), were isolated from the fresh fruits of Momordica charantia. The structures of these saponins were elucidated on the basis of chemical properties and spectral data. Copyright 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.