Cucurbitane-type triterpenes with anti-proliferative effects on U937 cells from an egyptian natural medicine, Bryonia cretica: structures of new triterpene glycosides, bryoniaosides A and B.

The 90% aqueous ethanol extract of an Egyptian natural medicine, the roots of Bryonia cretica L., was found to exhibit a strong inhibitory effect on the proliferation of human leukemia U937 cells. By bioassay-guided fractionation, we isolated two new cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides, bryoniaosides A and B, were isolated from the roots of Bryonia cretica L. together with 16 known cucurbitane-type triterpenes and glycosides. The chemical structures of bryoniaosides A and B were determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. Effects of principal cucurbitane-type triterpenes (cucurbitacins B, D, E, and J, 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacins B and E, and hexanorcucurbitacin D) on proliferation of the cells were examined. Cucurbitacins B and E showed the greater cytotoxic effects with IC(50) values of 9.2 and 16 nM after 72 h, and their IC(50) values were equivalent to that of camptothecin. An alpha,beta-conjugated ketone moiety at the 22-24-positions and an acetoxy group at the 25-position are essential for the strong activity.