Cucurbitane triterpenoids from Momordica charantia

Three new cucurbitane-type triterpenoid saponins, 23-O-β-D-allopyranosyl-5β,19-epoxycucurbita-6,24-diene-3β,22(S),23(S)-triol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), 23-O-β-D-allopyranosyl-5β,19-epoxycucurbita-6,24-diene-3β,22(S),23(S)-triol-3-O-β-D-allopyranoside (2), and 23-O-β-D-allopyranosyl-5β,19-epoxycucurbita-6,24-diene-3β,19(R), 22(S),23(S)-tetraol-3-O-β-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.