[Triterpenes and steroidal compounds from Momordica dioica]

Three triterpenes and two steroidal compounds were isolated from the dry root of Momordica dioica. Their structures were elucidated by spectral analyses (MS, IR, 1HNMR, 13CNMR and DEPT) and chemical methods. These compounds are alpha-spinasterol octadecanonate(I), alpha-spinasterol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(II), 3-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl gypsogenin(III), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl gypsogenin(IV) and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl hederagenin(V). Constituent III is a new compound. The CHCl3 extract of Momordica dioica roots and five isolated constituents showed anticancer activity in pharmacologic testing on cancer cell(L1210). The growth inhibitory index(%) of compound II was shown to be 50%, at the dose of 4 micrograms.ml-1.